A common saying among believers referring to unbelievers is that they look through a glass darkly. Quickness to accuse others is a character flaw. After looking at this adage closer you find that reference to glass in the KJV is actually better translated mirror. It seems that during the time that Paul wrote this scripture people didn't make mirrors out of glass but out of metal. As you can imagine the metal had to be well polished to reflect one's image. The funny thing is that as this saying goes we may understand it wrongly and we might be looking in the wrong direction. Paul was actually saying in this verse that we are to look at ourselves. Gradually approaching the clarity of an untainted image.

A mirror gets dirty so easy just like the distractions that keep us from looking at ourselves with clarity and scrutiny. Imagine the ability to look at oneself without justifications for anything. Some who look at themselves all the time become vain. Not because they are perfect but because they over compensate for their imperfections. Yahshua's example was so perfect because he constantly made sure that his heart was reflected in his actions.

This concept applied to the scriptures and our daily lives can clear up a lot of confusion. First, do we allow ourselves to be misled? My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy Yahweh, I will also forget thy children. (Hosea 4:6) We cannot prove everything that we think but we can prove everything that the Bible teaches us. Spiritually we should not allow ourselves to be misled. We have got to know the scriptures and examine our own lives with precision and integrity.

Second, do we examine ourselves? We should be refined of fire like the finest of gold. Extremely hot temperatures are required to purify gold. The impurities gradually come to the top and are removed. One should be on fire, able to burn with zealousness, burning for refinement. How will you know when you are on fire? You will see the smoke as you are refined. You will actually see a change another words. Fire causes a chemical change from one material to another. Hopefully the change will be to walk closer with Yahweh. Change isn't easy though.

Yahshua said that if your right eye offends you pluck it out. It is better to remove the evil within one's self and loose something that we rely so heavily rather than allow it to cause us to sin. We have to understand that in Yahshua's time life without sight was almost like being condemned. There wasn't help for those with handicaps as there is today. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into gehena. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into gehena. (Matthew 5:29-30) This refers to the assembly as well, which is not to allow wickedness within the congregation.

A compilation of the above two points would be, do we examine our doctrine? We have to be able to judge ourselves. This maybe a hard thing in today's society because we are constantly told that judgment is wrong. Unless we judge ourselves we are truly not striving for eternal life. Imagine the controversies that Lot had to decide sitting in the gate of Sodom. The people of Sodom and Gomorrah were sexually immoral. Deciding that homosexuality is wrong is a judgment. Deciding that abortion is wrong is a judgment. Deciding on Yahweh's laws are judgments. There is nothing wrong with judgment as long as it is made with the two most important principles of the law. The first principle is to put Yahweh first; this is the love of Yahweh. That means that we put our faith in Yahweh and use His inspired scriptures to make our judgments. Second we love our brethren as ourselves. Yahweh has not given us any law that will hurt our brethren. Yahweh's laws are perfect in destroying wickedness. Wickedness that we do must be stopped before we look outward. We should refrain from pointing fingers and humbly admit when we are wrong.

We have to look at ourselves because we love Yahweh and our brethren. We want to be together forever under Yahweh's rule. Contrary to that fact one's ego is a stumbling block. We ought to be willing to admit when we are wrong but at the same time willing to defend the truth. Yahweh formed Adam from the mud of the earth. When we return to the earth we will return as dusk. An important goal is to add to others more than we have used. Yahshua added a lot to his people in the understanding and love that he expressed everyday of his life. Yahshua called us friends because we strive for what Yahshua attained. The humility of Yahshua was shown in his caring for the sick and the poor. His steadfast dedication towards Yahweh can be seen in many points. Yahshua healed the sick showing his abundance of love. The overturning of the tables in the temple showed his solid love of Yahweh.

Yahshua and the disciples never bragged about their successes. We know that there were many successes in Yahshua the Messiah's ministry. The movement of Yahshua's ministry was to keep on moving forward realizing that there was still so much to do. Wouldn't it be great to look in the mirror and see someone that Yahshua would be happy to call a friend? Of course it would be great but unless we judge our actions and our thoughts we will never improve.

When someone comes to the faith there are always points of contention. The beauty is that even though these points exist we seem to come together as brethren. We discuss these points zealously. Sometimes like two large lions fighting over breeding rights for the African plains. In the end if we are humble we walk away with more knowledge and a stronger bond. These discussions don't always end happily but for every split that I have seen it is the lack of humility that ends in a divorce.

Yahshua said that the meek will inherit the earth. Humility and patience (meekness) go hand in hand. We are given so many choices in life. With each choice our salvation should be considered. It is also our compromises that our children see and use as examples. Patience with youth is imperative because we want to impress our children the love of Yahweh so that they follow the scriptures without resentment.

The innocence of a child is so incomprehensible. Imagine the influences and distractions that lead children into trouble. Wouldn't it be great to skip all those hard times? Yet without them children can never be well-rounded adults. A bee stings giving you understanding that they can hurt you. You probably wouldn't be as cautious around bees unless you were stung. When we look at our children we are looking into our mirror of sorts. If we stop lying our children will stop lying. If we stop following peer pressure our children too will stop.

In a health class some time ago the instructor told a story of a mother in one of his classes that said, "I wish I would of never lied to my daughter." She explained that when she was younger she told her daughter about Santa Claus and the story of Christmas. When her daughter was about six years old the child found out at school that Santa Claus was not real. Her daughter was upset so she told her the truth. Later when they were in church the girl said, "if Santa is not real then how can I know whether or not God is real because I have never seen Him." The mother said that her daughter and grandchildren keep Christmas but they do it for the children not because they believe in Christ. The instructor gave this story as his reason for not telling children lies. The mother may not of known the correct names or that Christmas was not Biblical but the point of the story remains. The fact is that a lie is a lie no matter how you classify it or try to justify it. When we look at our children we should treat them the way we would want to be treated. That means that we don't lie to them. We must be careful to prevent the loss of childhood innocence.

Childhood innocence can never be attained again except maybe when stepping from the waters of Baptism. Yahshua gave his life so that we could have forgiveness beyond the blood of any animal. Allowing one's self to sin profanes the remembrance of Yahshua's sacrifice. Our outward appearance should be respectable. Those who are interested in the faith base their opinion of our beliefs on our actions. Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. (Matthew 12:33) What kind of fruit do we present? When contemplating our salvation our fruits show what kind of life we live.

Our fruit must be sweet and ripe at all times, in season and out of season. Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (2 Timothy 4:2) Sometimes our lives cause conflict with our beliefs but Yahweh has given us the strength to overcome. Israel means to overcome with El. The pressures of life are in our face all the time especially when we are surrounded by the violent world of today. Let Yahweh be your rallying point so that all else is just a footnote in your life. Don't be discouraged by what you see in the mirror. You are not the worst but you are truly the last person that will allow you to understand Yahweh's beautiful plan. Unless I open my heart to Yahweh, Yahshua, and the body of believers I will not succeed.

When the great and terrible day of Yahweh comes we will not be able to justify anything by blaming others. The day to start depending on Yahweh is now. We must not allow today to pass without making changes that we know to be true. When Yahshua returns their will be no more procrastination because it will already be too late. Some take for granted their youth saying, "tomorrow I will follow Yahweh." No matter how old you are there will never be enough time. Lets pray that Yahweh accepts the small percentage of life spent serving him. Imagine if we watch an hour of TV each night for 20 years we have lost 7300 hours that we could have been working for Yahweh. That is almost one whole year wasted.

Self-examination starts with us determining what we should be doing for Yahweh. I would like to leave you with a few thoughts from Isaiah. Isaiah here as I understand it is talking about Yahshua but also a goal for each of us.

Lets pray for a clearer reflection and a closer walk with Yahweh. I pray that the assembly is edified and that the knowledge of the scriptures is understood. May Yahweh bless Israel His remnant that strives to overcome with El.

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