A Double Take

Have you ever looked into a mirror and, in a split second, thought you saw someone else staring back—perhaps a relative, your mom or dad—or in my case, a superstar like Tom Cruise?  Just kidding.

The older I get, the more I see my dad looking back at me; a balding head, sagging jowls, and a few more wrinkles than I had last year.  I blink quickly, do a double take, and say, “Hi, Dad.”

But the real question I want to ask is this: have you ever looked at your reflection and rejected the person staring back at you?  Let me explain.

I’m not suggesting that you—or anyone reading this—has a split personality.  Not at all.  But we can ask ourselves: do I ever put on a different face in public than the one I see in the mirror at home?  I think most of us would have to answer “yes” at one time or another.

That question is meant simply to bring awareness to those who desire change in their lives—and to point to the truth that Jesus can bring a complete transformation.  He can take a person from disliking what they see in the mirror to embracing a new reflection shaped by His presence.

There is deliverance in Jesus.  When sins are forgiven, something real and immediate begins to change within.  The desire to turn away from that reflection—to do a double take out of discomfort—can be replaced by something entirely different.  It becomes a wonderful feeling to actually like what you see, to be drawn to that reflection, because of what God has done within.

Jesus brings new life to a person’s countenance, heart, and soul.  He replaces weariness with peace, and even puts a genuine smile where there once may have been the marks of a “hard day’s night” lingering from before.

Before becoming a Christian, I often put on a façade around others.  But the real me was always there in the mirror, looking straight back and saying, “You phony.”

 My life had its share of mischief, moments of deception, and other failures I wish I could erase.  I was lost, without direction.  And the truth is, the pain I carried showed on my face—even before I did that double take in the mirror.  My struggles were many.

But today, I can look at that same reflection and say, “Hello, friend,” with a smile—and a quiet, “Praise the Lord”—because of what it means to be made new.

Written by,

Papa Boyd