Our kids are all driving now. No more lessons with Dad. No more lectures. No more repetition. In particular, no more reminders to check your mirrors.

For me, mirrors are a big part of safe driving. You can check your mirror a hundred times and see nothing of concern. But one day, that simple mirror check will save your life. I know this from experience. What I’ve seen in that moment has resulted in immediate changes. What we see, informs and what we do.

More often than not, the purpose of divine revelation is divine transformation. What we see in this case, not only informs what we do but it inspires us to do it. When God gives a vision, it’s to shift something. So what type of vision brings about godly transformation?

Not surprisingly, the type of vision that God most loves to give is that of himself. This is what we mean when we speak of his glory.

I should state that a vision of God (and in particular his holiness) leads to a greater awareness of what is not of God (unholiness) and that can be rather confronting. Isaiah’s first reaction to seeing the splendour of God (Isaiah 6:1-3) was to be filled with anguish at his own poverty of spirit (Isaiah 6:5).

The stark contrast between God and ourselves can be rather disturbing. You may not actually like what you see in yourself but don’t fear – in Christ – God has you covered. Isaiah’s vision was pre-Christ and so a special offering of atonement was necessary for him. Now however – thanks to Christ – you can be assured that,

“Your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” – Isaiah 6:7 (NIV)

As a result – when we view the glory of God – it is not only a glimpse of who God is but (in Christ) it is also a glimpse of who we are. Jesus tells the Father,

“I have given them the glory, that you gave me.” – John 17:22 (NIV)

Christ reproduces in us the same glory that the Father produced in Him. His glory is our glory! So, as we see (or contemplate) his glory, we also see what we are becoming.

“And we all – who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory – are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit..” – 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV)

In this sense, seeing is becoming!

The word for “contemplate” above literally translates, “beholding as in a mirror”. In other words, as we check out our spiritual mirror, the Lord (through the Spirit) enables us to see the glory of Christ instead of our dreary old self. As we do, we are able to appreciate more and more our transformation into his image!

One of the clearest mirrors we have is God’s word – the bible. Check it regularly and you will see the glory of the Lord.

“Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;

Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.

Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,

Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.”