Sum of All Mirrors

READ: Romans 12:1-8

Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment.

What did Layne Staley see when he looked in the mirror? We’ll never know. The former lead singer of the grunge band Alice In Chains was found dead in his apartment in April 2002.

Staley, who wrote drug-induced lyrics that denied God and screamed hopelessness, died alone in silent despair. His life eerily mirrored a man he admired—Kurt Cobain. The lead singer for Nirvana committed suicide almost 10 years ago.

In a 1996 interview, Layne reflected on Cobain’s death: “I saw all the suffering that Kurt Cobain went through. I didn’t know him well, but I just saw this real vibrant person turn into a real shy, timid, withdrawn person who could hardly get a ‘hello’ out. At the end of the day or at the end of the party, when everyone goes home, you’re stuck with yourself.”

What was Layne Staley stuck with? From his lyrics you learn that he felt he was a “man in the box” with no way out . . . no hope.

What do you see when you look in the mirror? Jesus has provided you with an image that doesn’t require drug abuse or fan adulation to prop it up. It’s real.

In Romans 12, Paul wrote about what can be your true reflection as a believer in Jesus:

• A living sacrifice—As you pour out your life for Christ, He fills you with His joy and strength (v.1).

• A humble servant—Not thinking too high or too low of yourself, but confidently—by faith—seeing your value in Christ alone (v.3).

• A family member—You’re not alone in this world. Other believers in Jesus are here to love you and allow you to love them (vv.4-5).

• A gifted person—You, by grace, have a special gift to share with others! (vv.6-8).

You are not “stuck” with yourself. You are not a person trapped in a box. Rejoice in the person you’ve become in Jesus—you’ve been set free to reflect Him! —Tom Felten


REFLECTION

• What is my self-image based on?
• How does God view me differently than I view myself?

The true view of you is found in Jesus.

campus journal