The Great Reflection

The Great Reflection

by Daniel Herring
One: An introduction

I am entering a study that chases shadows; that pursues phantoms. It will be a study that stalks secrets and clutches clues. I will conclude with a greater understanding of the relationship between what is corporeal and what is spiritual. I shall look at the interface between the two; a looking glass not unlike Alice’s, where secret transactions occur, and the stirrings of enlightenment are broadcast.
We are familiar with the concept that the earthly temple is a reflection of the Heavenly; a shadow of things to be. This study, then, shall deal with ‘mirror images’; and of all reflections, I shall begin with man, for man was created in the ‘likeness’ or ‘mirror image’ of his creator; and while the flesh may be a secondary issue, we may see that, of our nature, we have inherited certain family traits. If we, then, derive what we call human nature from God, it should be no surprise that God displays some of those same traits.
Micah 1:8 gives us an image of God in His own words, "Therefore I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning as the owls."
We, as a race, struggle with our search for a concept of God. It is a real issue for us because we ‘feel’ connected, but are hardly sure how. Accordingly, many cling to a fragmented concept: the group on the right will say God is love; the group on the left will say God is a man of war - both concepts are scripturally based. Both, however, are examples of people seeking a single, simple answer. I might be jumping ahead of myself, to introduce the meat of the word of God to those not yet weaned from the milk, but quite frankly, a stronger constitution is needful to bear up under the weight of the ‘bigger picture’.
Isaiah 45:7 gives us that bigger picture thusly, "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things."
This may not sit well with those who believe that God ‘cannot’ look upon evil. It may not sit well with those who believe that God ‘cannot’ lie. As for me, I think it wise not to place limitations on God. He can do whatever He wants to do - He’s God. I don’t have a problem with that concept of God; to me He is still Holy and Reverend. The point I wish to stress in regard to Isaiah 45:7 is that if we are made in the likeness of God, we should not whitewash His or our nature. I think we must simply trust that He has a plan. Some people, and not a few, get caught up in that whole ‘how can God allow bad things to happen to good people’ thing. Hosea 6:1-3 gives us a better mental approach to the issue, "Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up. After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth." An interesting note about this particular verse is its reference to ‘cyclic’ occurrences such as rain; such as the rising sun. The word ‘prepared’ is significant, as shall be seen later. Note, too, that the ‘cyclic’ reference is but a small part of a larger reference, or ‘a shadow’: and that is our salvation in Christ through His resurrection - He being lifted, or raised up, draws all men up with Him. It bears repeating that this study shall deal with shadows and reflections. If you are desirous of truth, as am I, then what we want out of all this is an understanding. We just want to know. By and by, we shall know, that is if we do not trip ourselves up on old preconceptions. It would not do if our best reasoning only lead us back to incomplete first thoughts. If God’s word is indeed a treasure chest containing both old and new treasure, should we ignore the new? Take for example the concept bodied forth in Isaiah 43:10. As concepts go, this will seem foreign to many staunch advocates of God’s God-ness. So many times have I heard from them that God has no beginning and no end, even though they will completely accept that Christ is the Alpha and Omega (beginning and end).
Here is what Isaiah 43:10 says: "Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and My servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He: before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me."And here is my paraphrased version of that verse: "You are My witness and My chosen servant, says God, that you may both know and believe that I am actually God. There was no god formed before Me, and there shall be no god formed after Me."
If we truly believe the verity of God’s written word, then what we see here is God, Himself, indicating how He came into being: by some process (here unknown) of formation. So then, what of man; that we are formed in His image? Is not a reflection an image of something that we believe to be real? If we look into a mirror, our reflection reenacts our every posture, and the image seems just as real.

Hello, everyone. I am a seeker of hidden truth. I hope I am not the only one. My intent is to publish my personal studies from my published work entitled "The Great Reflection".

I welcome all comments. I am neither an orthodox nor a contemporary Christian: an opposing view will not hurt my feelings. I have set my feet on a higher path, and I invite any who seek to share my journey.