Reflection

As You look through your house, what do you see? Your home reflects you, your style, your likes, your passions. As fashions change, do yours change?

As I have mentioned in earlier posts, we have been purging. In January, we eliminated 500 items to declutter our home. Lately, I find myself walking by an object and saying to myself, “I could do without that if we had to downsize.” I’m sure my hubby and I will be purging again this year.

Our home definitely reflects us with crosses on the walls and art that depicts faith. Books, antiques, family photos, our daughter’s paintings and granddaughters’ art on the fridge, my office full of music instruments, and Kevin’s office filled with Hot Wheels and Match Box cars. All of these tell others what we love and who we are. Our life is pretty much an open book. I believe we should reflect who we are both in our home as well as out.

What about cultural whims or changes in world-view or church-view? Do you embrace what’s new and sounds good? Does your life reflect that? Or do you stick to your guns and stand on what you know and believe to be true? The Word says that deceived people are waiting to deceive us.

[Don’t be] “…tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming; [but] “…put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new by the renewing of your minds; and to put on a new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:14 & 22-24 NIV

Video conferencing shows everything around you. A reflection of you shows through. Are you messy or tidy? Do you stuff your unsightly junk in a closet when you have visitors?

Are you the same at home as well as at work or at church? Masks are a thing. Not just the ones worn through the pandemic, but hypocritical ones that make people think we are other than who we are. Do you hang with the party crowd, swearing up a storm, laughing at crude jokes, but go to church and pretend your life reflects God’s goodness? At one time, that was me. But, God has shown me His mercy.

Now, He pulls me back when I start wandering where I shouldn’t or when my mind starts wondering about things it shouldn’t. He does this because I should be reflecting Him—this house, my heart, where He dwells. We need to purge the things that don’t reflect well on Him by; not posting those memes if they are questionable, not hanging with people that change our course for the worse. And a myriad of other things that defame our character and our God. Being with like-minded people is not a bad thing. They can help strengthen us and keep us pointed in the right direction. If people tell you you are narrow-minded by doing this, The Way is narrow. Don’t give it a second thought. You’re on the right road if you’re on the narrow one. The broad road leads to destruction.

Be careful what you listen to, even in the church. Jesus called the religious teachers of His day white-washed tombs, scrubbed on the outside, but on the inside full of old dry bones. He called them a brood of vipers. Be careful to check if they speak and live by the truth of God’s Word. If you read God’s Word, you will be able to discern who is chasing after the world-view or after God’s view.

Who do you reflect?