Rear-View Mirrors (Oct 12)

Anybody who drives a car knows the importance of rear-view mirrors. They help you see behind you, of course. If you're driving down the road, you can see if someone is coming up behind you. It's good to check these things to be aware of what's around you, especially if you're going to be changing lanes or something. Also, if you're backing up or turning around, your mirrors can help you see where you're going. You can navigate through tighter spaces if you use your mirrors, especially your side mirrors. My mom and dad have little electric scooters and they even have a little rear-view mirror that sticks up from the handle bars. Some people have similar mirrors on their bicycles. These help them be aware of other bikers coming up from behind (perhaps faster them) so that they can be sure to move over to allow them to pass. Also, if they were to ride along the side of the road, they would be able to see when a car was passing, to give extra room. Yesterday, I took advantage of the beautiful weather to go on a fall bike ride. There were a lot of other people taking the same opportunity, so I passed many bikers and walkers in both directions. One guy had these little square rimless glasses. There was a little rear-view mirror sticking out from the one side leg. I thought it looked funny and I had never seen one before. But I'm sure it let him know when others were coming up behind him, which can be important while biking, I suppose. I usually just turn my head around, but you all know that can sometimes affect your ability to continue in a straight line. :)

Today, I would like to talk about things that sneak up from behind and sometimes catch us unaware. Sin seems to approach us this way often, doesn't it? Can you imagine, as you're traveling down the road of Christian life, you come upon this huge, neon-lit, blinking sign with a huge arrow that says, “SIN!!! Served Fresh Daily!” Well, I suppose we come across signs like that, but those are pretty obvious and we usually avoid them and keep on going. But how about the sins and temptations that sneak up from behind and before you know it, it's right there beside you and you fall? If only you had a rear-view mirror so that you could be aware of your surroundings and properly discern the good and bad that comes face-to-face, but also the good and bad that comes from behind! With a rear-view mirror, you see the things coming from behind just as easily as the things coming head-on.

1 Peter 5:8-10

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15

13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Satan and false teachers are not always blatantly obvious. The scriptures say that Satan makes himself look like an angel of light and that false teachers make themselves look like righteous teachers. People can be fooled by this...they might not realize it until after they've been deceived by their words. It's like they sneaked up from behind. We are told that we should be sober and vigilant because our adversary is going around looking for someone to devour. Temptations and sin seem to lie around every turn and they are often disguised as something good. Once again, it's like they sneak up from behind and we don't realize it until they're right there. We must be vigilant and resist these things. Look in that rear-view mirror and see the temptations that are sneaking up to devour you. Don't just stare blankly ahead, oblivious to the things that are approaching.

Acts 28:27 NKJV

For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.

I must point out that it is God that saves. It is God that keeps you from falling. It is God that makes you perfect and establishes, strengthens, and settles you. Looking in the rear-view mirror is like having discernment and being aware of the things that are around you and influencing you. But, you can't have discernment in these things on your own. You need God's spirit to see these things.

1 Corinthians 2:14-16 NKJV

14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

I want to point out one more thing about the rear-view mirrors. What is printed on the side mirrors on cars? “Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.” It says that because sometimes things look little and far away, but you should be warned that it's closer than you think, so be careful about changing lanes. Well, I want to warn you about looking in the mirror and seeing some sin or temptation sneaking up on you and taking the approach, “Oh, no bother, that temptation is still far from me. I don't need to worry about resisting it right now.” Don't play with fire! That temptation or sin is closer than you think!

Jude 24-25

24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.