Are You a Carnival Mirror for Christ?

Yolanda and I have been to a few carnivals in our lives, including the Strawberry Festival in Florida and some other “rural extravaganzas” around the country. From the rides to the food to the exhibits, there’s just something about greasy food in a parking lot and the chance to lose all your money on rings that never land on the right coke bottle neck!

I was thinking about the fun houses at carnivals, especially the fun mirrors. You know, the ones that are weighted at the bottom and slimmed at the top, making you look like some kind of freak just by standing in front of them. Whatever you put in front of those mirrors gets reflected based on how the glass is shaped and where the waves are. If the mirror wasn’t wavy at all, it wouldn’t be much fun, because it would just be a regular mirror.

1 Corinthians 11:1 has a simple message from the Apostle Paul about “reflection” in our walk with God: 
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

So, the question is, what kind of reflection are we giving of Christ in our lives? Are we a clear, unwrinkled mirror for people to see Christ reflected in everything we do? Or are we like those carnival mirrors, with folds and blemishes that make Christ look distorted when people look at our lives? We might think that our lives are just our own, but when we give our lives to Christ, we have a responsibility to reflect Him in the best way possible.

What are some “distortions” in the mirrors of our lives? Maybe it’s how we react when someone tries to harm us. Maybe it’s cursing or telling dirty jokes. Or perhaps it’s how we treat our families—with actions, words, and even cutting remarks that demean. 

When we give our lives to Christ, there’s often this idea that we have it all in order now, and that others should do the same and find Christ “their way.” But if Jesus is the best thing that ever happened to us, shouldn’t we want everyone to know about Him through how we live and interact? We need to remember that people will “read” us long before they pick up a Bible. And the Bible is the guide that helps believers in Christ straighten out those “distortions” so we can be the best reflection of Him we can be.

So next time you’re at a carnival and see those crazy mirrors in the fun house, take a moment to check your heart and your life. See if there are any inconsistencies you need Christ to help you straighten out because we want to be a perfect reflection of Christ in everything we say and do. And you never know who’s watching.