Lesson 232 . The Mirror of Love

I think that each of you has a mirror in your home. It is unique in that it always tells us the truth to our face, but not everyone is pleased by this truth. The mirror itself has neither the power nor the purpose to change my appearance; it can only show me what is there.

God’s law is also a mirror of the soul. It was spoken by God Himself and, to this day, has not been changed by Him. But the law does not change my life; it only tells me what in my life meets its requirements and where there are violations. Jesus revealed to me the spirit of the law, making it clear that all these commands apply not only to my deeds but also to my thoughts, and He desires to write it in my heart.

God’s law is good and holy for those who are good and holy, but it mercilessly exposes and judges its transgressors. The mirror of the law cannot lie. It tells my heart the truth, but it does not resolve the problem of sin in my life.

But I have Jesus, Who reveals His will to me through His law and offers me His help and strength to correct what is wrong in my life.

What is the mirror of love? What does it reflect and show me? In what can I see my love and understand how genuine it is? Your loving hearts, my friends, are my mirror of love, in which I see what I have in my heart. And this is the special feature of our relationship: you are a reflection of what is within me, and this mirror tells me the truth, which is sometimes very bitter and painful.

I look at my reflection in your love and see how sincere and genuine I am. And what do you see in me and in my love for you? You see yourselves and your love for me. I reflect to you who you are, and you tell me about myself.

If I begin to evaluate myself by myself, I will most likely become a self-absorbed person; and if I am also proud, nothing good will come of it. But if I want to learn the real truth about my love, I bring it to you, for it is you who will show me everything you have seen and how it has affected you. And through your evaluation, given in the spirit of love and friendship, I learn about myself—how sincere, valuable, and truthful I am. And my love for you helps you understand how filled with love you are and what else should be changed in your heart.

Let us consider an example. You engage in self-examination and come to the conclusion that you are a failure. That is a very bold self-assessment. And it instills in you the confidence that this is indeed so. Then I appear, so greatly loved, and begin to convince you of the opposite, telling you how wonderful you are, what marvelous potential has been placed within you—so much that there was even enough of it for me—what great wings you have on your back, and how your love has changed my life. And you soar with joy because of such an assessment. For I have revealed to you the whole truth about yourself through what has been revealed in me and through the changes in my life. I have become your mirror of love.

The Bible teaches us in 1 John 1:7: “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” In deliberate isolation there is no love; it is simply neither needed nor visible if it cannot be reflected from someone.

Look at the night sky. Do you see the sunlight that permeates space from every direction? No. You see pitch darkness. Light has visible power only when it is reflected from something, showing you the spectrum of all colors and shades. The same thing happens with love. It needs someone.

In evil or deceitful people, it is difficult to see your love immediately. Like “black holes,” they absorb all the light and reflect nothing. But love heals even these hearts if they respond to its influence.

But in fellowship with those who love or strive toward this goal, God brings about amazing mutual discoveries. For example, when one person lies in a cold bed, it is very difficult for him to warm himself. He must cover himself tightly in order to retain his warmth or heat the room. But if another person is beside him under the blanket, then, by giving each other our warmth, we warm up very quickly.

During my military service, I was put in the guardhouse. It was winter, and I was placed in a solitary cell without a window or a bed. I was cold throughout the first night and could not sleep. Then I was transferred to a common cell, where it was also cold. At night we lay close together, covered ourselves with our greatcoats, warmed one another, and slept that way. I do not remember those soldiers, but I remember how warm I was with them in that cold cell.

You should not deprive yourself of fellowship with fellow believers. This is God’s plan for our spiritual development and purification.

A mirror helps me see myself, examine my features, see my shortcomings, admire the beauty of God’s creation, and make a decision.

The most sincere mirrors of love are our spouses. But if one’s spouse does not walk with God, that person may become a distorting mirror and misrepresent the truth. Ideally, however, two hearts that love each other—a husband and wife who believe in the one God—are the best reflection of God’s love, first for each other and then for those around them.

It is very difficult for me to understand what I am truly like until I see the reflection of my love for you in the way my love has helped you, and the reflection of your love in the way it has helped me. Such a relationship works miracles in our lives.

This quality is not easy to explain, and it is even more difficult to understand. But we have been given and presented to one another for a reason: to nurture mutual love in others. People who love me very quickly reveal to me my own value in God’s eyes, in my own eyes, and in theirs as well. I see myself in a loving heart. And this value is determined not by how wonderful I am, but by how my love has helped others feel wonderful, make amazing discoveries within themselves, change for the better, and accomplish something remarkable. If my love has helped you love yourself, discover the person within you, and understand your value in God’s eyes, then in this I can see a very good reflection of who I am. And the same applies to me. Your love brings changes into my life and shows you who you are.

The commandment that we love one another is very deep. We will comprehend it throughout all Eternity without ever reaching the bottom of its revelations. And this prospect brings me great joy.

The development of any child clearly demonstrates the power and influence of love. Begin scolding him for every mistake and calling him hurtful names, and a complex will form within him for life. But if this little person is treated with love and helped to make new discoveries within himself as a creative individual and as a person, his development will be very rapid and well-rounded. For we were created by love for love, and only love can uncover the limitless potential within me and desires to do so from early childhood. But everyone’s childhood was different. Even now, however, love can set everything right. It is powerful; it tears down strongholds.

If I have only one friend, that is better than nothing, but it is still not quite enough. If many mirrors show me the same image from every side, they will convince me more fully of the truth about myself than if there were only one source.

Whoever desires to have many friends must himself be friendly.

Homework 232

In the light of our lesson, please read Proverbs 4:7–12; 17:17; Genesis 2:18; John 13:34; Ephesians 5:28, 33; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 1:7; 4:8, 11; James 1:23–25; and Matthew 18:20.
Is this lesson clear to you? What did you understand from it?
Did God create human beings for a life of solitude?
Why is it precisely through fellowship and contact with others that my love develops?
Is it important for love to be reflected from the hearts of those around us?
Why is it precisely in fellowship that the blood of Christ cleanses us from sin?
What influence does society have on my love? Should I avoid the company of other people?
Why is love able to live only where there are two or more people?
Why have we not been given a commandment to love ourselves?
Should I come out of isolation? After all, in this state I can be very close to Jesus.