“Why are you pulling over?” Lynne asked. “I need to get a picture of this,” I replied as I pulled into a turnoff. We were on vacation in Washington State and were driving through the North Cascades National Park. As we drove higher, encountering numerous switchbacks, I suddenly saw Mt. Shuksan in my rearview mirror. Being a photo buff, I’m always looking for a great nature shot. This was a spectacular opportunity, and I wasn’t going to miss it.
I parked the car, and we hiked along the shoreline until I found the perfect spot to take this picture of Mt. Shuksan reflected in a large pond.
It was almost the perfect shot, except for the ripple. The tranquil scene I saw coming up the mountain was spoiled by the slight breeze that sent ripples across the water.
As Christians, we are called to reflect our Lord and Savior. While the Bible never uses the word reflection, the concept is there. Paul, writing to the believers in Rome, said this:
“For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers” (Romans 8:29, ESV)
When God says that we are to be conformed to the image of His Son, He is saying that we are to be like Him. We are to reflect, if you will, the image of Him who created us.
This caused me to ponder the things in my life that cause “ripples” in my ability to perfectly reflect Jesus in my life. Discontent would probably be one of the biggest ripples in my life. Jesus was not a “whiner” in anything He modeled. Scripture gives only one example where He asked the Father to change His mind.
“Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here, while I go over there and pray.’ And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, ‘My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.’ And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will. I’” (Matthew 26:37-39, ESV)
Jesus knew true tranquility came from a life of obedience to the Father’s will. His submission to the Father’s will resulted in the Roman centurion at His crucifixion crying out,
“Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:54, ESV)
When I complain, I am saying that the Father has made a mistake. He is wrong about His actions in my past or He is wrong in what He is doing now. No one likes a complainer, and my witness is marred by the ripples of my complaining. If I want to reflect the image of my Creator, then I need to acknowledge God’s ways are perfect. Then, and only then, will the reflection be unmarred by ripples of complaining.
What say you, Man of Valor?
Adapted from Men of Valor Devotional by Ron Helle, 7 March 2025.