You don’t notice them during the day unless you really focus on them but at night, reflectors are extremely important in guiding drivers, ensuring that they stay on the right path and avoid potential hazards. They do this by reflecting headlights, transforming them into a visible guide through the darkness. Similarly, Christians are called to be reflectors of God’s image, guiding others through the moral and spiritual darkness of today’s world.
Reflecting the image of God involves embodying His characteristics in our daily lives. This means demonstrating love, kindness, justice, and integrity in a world that often challenges these virtues.
In Matthew 5:16, Jesus commanded us, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” I have often heard people ask, “Why doesn’t God bring about extraordinary events to make people believe that He exists?” Back when Jesus was on earth, his own brothers challenged him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” (John 7:4) Interestingly, the Bible tells us that Jesus’ own brothers did not believe in him (John 7:5)
God has given the responsibility of show-casing his goodness and power to the Church, that is, the body of Christ. We are meant to reflect his image which involves demonstrating the characteristic of the divine nature which is given to us when we surrender our lives to the Lord. Some of the attributes which reflects the image of God in our lives are love, truth, justice and humility.
The world paints a false picture of love demonstrated by a vague sense of commitment which does not last. God’s love however, is unconditional and sacrificial. When we love others selflessly even those who may not love us in return, we reflect the image of God to the world around us.
God is the embodiment of truth. When Pilate asked Jesus, “what is truth?”, he was not sure what truth was, most likely because he had been exposed to various philosophical schools of thought. It was not certain whether he meant the question to be rhetorical but one thing is clear, he failed to recognise that the one standing before him was the Truth.
Thomas had earlier asked Jesus, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” (John 14:5) Jesus responded, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6) As Christians, we carry the truth within us and the only way we can reflect that truth is by standing up for righteousness even when it is unpopular.
God is just and fair. There are many people and even some who profess to be Christians, who struggle with the notion that God will allow some people to go to hell, a place of eternal suffering. Surely, the God who loves mankind would not allow such a terrible thing to happen? The fact is, God did not created hell for man. Jesus came so that man can be saved from the consequence of sin. Hell is reserved for satan and his fallen angels. Those who refuse to accept God’s plan for saving man are the ones who made the choice not God. He gave us the will to make a choice between good and evil, heaven and hell. If anyone goes to hell, it will not be because God sent them to hell, it will be because they chose to go there.
How then do we reflect God’s image in terms of his fairness and justice? This can involve standing up against injustice, promoting equality, and ensuring that everyone is treated with dignity and respect. "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8).
God calls us to a life of humility. Jesus exemplified this by living a life of humility. He could have been born in a palace but He chose to be born in a manger. He did not come to be served but came to serve. "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:6-8)
Jesus placed our needs over His own to the extent that He laid His life down for us. Reflecting God’s image means placing others’ needs above our own. We should offer our service not to honour ourselves but to honour God.
There are many ways we can reflect the light of Christ in our world. These are just a few practical areas of application but on an individual level, as we walk with the Lord, we will be faced with choices where we either chose to showcase our own self or reflect the image of God. Jesus’ challenge to us is to let God’s light shine so that others can see and glorify our Father who is in heaven.
