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Dr. Del Tackett is the author, architect and teacher for Focus on the Family's The Truth Project, a nationwide initiative designed to bring the Christian worldview to the body of Christ.
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Reflecting on Reflecting
Posted on September 29, 2009
Filed Under Personal, Worldview |
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Cor 3:18
I am writing this late at night—still overwhelmed by the glory that was on display before me today. I had the deep privilege of seeing the Maroon Bells with the Aspen leaves in full fall colors.
There are moments that give me goose bumps…this was one.
For those of you not familiar with the Maroon Bells—they are two 14,000 foot peaks in the Rocky Mountains, not far from Aspen, Colorado. There are just over 50 “fourteeners” in Colorado (the number is in dispute)—but these are two of the most spectacular.
In the valley at the base of the Maroom Bells lies a small mountain lake…appropriately called Maroon Lake. We had gotten up early so that we could see the morning sunlight as it illuminated the “Bells” and the golden leaves of the Aspen. However, we when arrived, the lakeshore was already lined with tripods, manned by photographers who were waiting for the right moment to capture the magnificence of the scene.
And it was stunning…the “Bells” were stunning…the Aspen were stunning…the entire vista was stunning…breath-taking.
But what caught my attention was the lake.
It wasn’t really spectacular by itself. It wasn’t much different that a hundred other mountain lakes. But what made this lake special…what caused dozens of expectant photographers to plant their tripods on her shore, was not the lake, but the image she was reflecting. If it were not for the Maroon Bells, there would have been no crowd this morning…no throng of folks snapping pictures.
See, it isn’t about the lake…its about what the lake reflects.
When Moses came down from the mountain, after receiving the Ten Commandments, his face was shining. He put a veil over his face, but not for the reason that many think. Look at what we read in 2 Corinthians 3:13:
We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away.
The glory that was reflected in Moses’ face was fading. Why? I suppose it was because of the way the Spirit of God came upon people in the Old Testament. He didn’t “indwell” them, but merely came “upon” them. It was a temporary thing. That is why the passage in 2 Corinthians 3:18 is so important. It says that our faces are unveiled! Why? Because the Holy Spirit now indwells us. We are not left as orphans, as Jesus said. So, we have this amazing reality: God Himself dwells within us. And because of that, the glory of the Lord doesn’t fade away. We don’t need a veil…or we shouldn’t wear one.
Photo by Ed Kuiper
Imagine if someone were to pull a “veil” over Maroon Lake…kind of like the cover that people put over their swimming pools in the winter. The lake would miss out on her most glorious task…to reflect the glory of the majesty behind her.
Standing there today, I was struck by how well the lake was doing its job. I was also struck by how poorly I was doing mine.
The world around us will continually say that it is all about us. But it isn’t. It is all about Him.
Have you ever noticed how the three persons of the Trinity do this as well? The Son points to the Father. The Father points back to the Son. The Holy Spirit points to the Father and the Son.
Well, Job 12 tells us to learn from the creation: the animals teach us, the birds tell us, the fish inform us, and the earth will teach us…if we will listen. Today, I learned a lot from an old, non-descript mountain lake.
It convicted me. I wish I were as faithful as she.
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55 Responses to “Reflecting on Reflecting”
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Thank you for posting this Dr. Tackett! With the world giving off messages that it is “all about us”, this post reminds me that it is all about Him.
Thank you for this posting. We live in Eastern Oregon and I have forgotten to see all of God’s glory in our mountain lakes as well. Thank you for the reminder.
Dr. Tackett,
This post is as magnificent (in its message) as the photograph is stunning in its reflection of the mountains.
Your teaching of the scripture, the attributes of God (the Trinity), and the insight you shareabout living a life that’s all about Him is humble, helpful, and honorable. I’m glad I didn’t miss this blog post (all yours are good, but this one is “best”).
The Truth Project, such an important ministy — thanks to you and Focus Institute for it.
Thank you for sharing what the Lord shared with you … it brought tears of joy and wonder to my eyes, as the HS brought tears of contrition to my heart.
I pray my “unveiled face” reflects the Lord’s Glory!! And that I will continue to be transformed!
This post triggered worship. Not because of what IT said, but because of GOD. I observe beautiful events every day in northern Illinois. I obeserve the unique, interesting, humorous behavior of birds in the fall, sunsets all year long, weather…sometimes serene, sometimes aggesssive, sometimes even violent. It reminds me we are living in a 2nd law of thermodynamics world. But it is a world of GOD’S design!
Oh, my! What an awesome reminder! As soon as I read, “it’s about what the lake reflects” I thought to myself the very same thing I read just a few paragraphs later–I know I don’t do as well as I should reflecting His glory to a dark world. Thank you for sharing this.
Oh how I miss those Colorado mountains! Thank you for the challenge of living our lives for Him and not for ourselves. You mentioned that the lake’s “most glorious task” is to reflect the glory of the majesty behind her. Its true how we-the crown of creation- also have a task to not only reflect God’s glory, but to worship and glorify Him. SDG
We live in NW Ohio where the only mountains are overpasses on the freeway. But even though we live in a city we have many grand old oak trees in our neighborhood. Every year the acorns fall like rain and they are such a bother to rake and sweep and disposed of. This morning when I looked out the window I saw a doe and her fawn very near to the house. I could see that they were eating…acorns. Suddenly, those crazy nuts didn’t seem so bad after all. God’s creatures are beautiful and He provides for them just as surely as He provides for us. Thank you for sharing the wonderful pictures from the Rockies. Amazing.
Thank you so much for sharing “THE BEAUTY OF THE
LORD” in the land of the living.
There is no way I would ever be able to see it.
May the Lord bless you for sharing His beauty.
Today, I so understand what you are saying. We must allow God the glory, the reflection in our lives to show others who He indeed is. I thank God and I thank you for this truth.
I really appreciated what you had to say about the Maroon Bells. I was baptized there in the summer of 1978 and it was a memorable experience. The water was ice cold, but the experience was exhilarating!
Wow! Isn’t God great? Being a amateur photographer, I can so appreciate what you shared, both photos and the word. Thank you for linking the two together and reminding all of us of who we are and should be as we go through this earthly life.
Great article Del!!! Our small group is doing The Truth Project and everyone loves it. We are praying for transformation all over the world. Thank You for creating it.
Oh I love this one (I enjoy all your posts really) because I can see it perfectly - I have been in the same place only in summer. We spent a wonderful summer evening watching the changing face of Maroon Bells and the lake. SO AMAZING! It makes the story that much more meaningful and real when one can say “Yes I have seen it too!” Thanks for the picture!
Thanks, Del, for posting your reflections on seeing Maroon Lake and all its surrounding finery. So often my husband and I have wandered those fourteeners - we love the Buena Vista area and Cottonwood Lake - so reading and seeing the photos brought it all back. We live in Albuquerque so we are neighbors with you. Well, God has given us a most magnificent creation to ponder His awesome power but also to think about the beauty of His own Person as it is reflected in those things He creates. Our God is Beautiful. Thank you for the reminder about the lake’s job - to reflect that which surrounds it. Ah, what a reminder for us all; what a job description - to reflect Christ as we stand in our world.
This really touched my heart. It really reminded me of how we are supposed to let the Holy SPirit show in us… not only in speech, but in the things we do and our everyday lives. I am as guilty of these as anyone of letting it be “temporary.” I remember as a teenager about going to these Youth Retreats and getting fired up for the Lord. Most of the youth in our church, it would last for around a month. Then it seemed as if the conviction and Holy Spirit was no longer present. I know that the Holy Spirit is always present in our lives, but we forgot to let it show after a while.
It is by the reflection seen in us that we make the invisible God visible.
Thank you from Tulsa, Ok. How glorious and inspiring and humbling to be reminded of God’s beauty in His creation. Thank you for this special reminder.
The fact that God is now indwells us permanently as opposed to “coming upon” us temporarily, might this mean that in our final state will be able to have a closer relationship with our God that we would have had before the fall. i.e. Did Christ come to only restore that which we lost in the fall or has he provided a more glorious position in our final restoration.
I visited Maroon Bells after graduating high school in 1975. The memory of majesty was rekindled after reading your blog.
The lake really does its job and the mountains receive the glory. It reminded me that when we do our job then God receives the glory.
I appreciated your thoughts on the reflective beauty of the lake. I had an impish smile when I considered that one small stone would have transformed all of those tripods into weapons of war. At the same time, I was convicted to consider how I allow the stones of life to cast ripples across Christ’s reflection in my life. The ripples not only obscure the reflection but can distort it as well. Tonight I heard Flash state once again how “church was a bad place for him”. In the pain I felt for him I had to wonder, what distorted reflection of Christ has he seen? Thank you, I’ll be watching for the stones.
I had a similar experience some years ago in Glacier National Park. Late September, trees ablaze with color, clear cloudless sky, and the eastern face of the mountains behind St Mary’s Lake gloriously lit up by the early morning sun. The calm was incredible, and the lake was a perfect mirror. We found ourselves speaking in hushed tones.
There was a photographer there, setting up to try to capture a frame of the magic that was all around us. We talked about the beauty of the scene, and he said, “I’ve been here all summer, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought to myself, ‘This is going to be the most magnificent photograph ever,’ but I’m always disappointed when I look at the finished photograph. Not that it isn’t beautiful, but it can never approach the experience of standing here and witnessing this.”
Your story reminds me that the Lord is like that also. No matter how eloquently someone else describes Him, it cannot compare to standing in His Presence and being aware on a personal level of His awesome love and beauty. If, then, we reflect that beauty to others, it will be in hope that they go to see for themselves.
Thank you for your beautiful reflections. I can see The Truth Project is provoking a deeper relationship with the Lord in our group.
How difficult it is to stand there and not have your breath taken away and then, worshipping, feeling it being replaced by the incredible majesty of God. He is the air we breath.
What a great post! I have hiked the four passes trail around Maroon Bells and have been amazed by the beauty of Gods creation. What a great object lesson from such a beautiful place. The solitude on the back side of Maroon Bells provide a great time of reflection and celebration of Gods majesty.
Mr. Tackett, Thank you for your story on this more than beautiful scene. I read this story for a 2nd time and kept stopping to imagine and reflect how this story convicts me and has helped remind me of what I as a christian am suppose to do. Thank you and may God bless you, your family, your ministry!
At 67 years it was the first time that I realised the significance of Moses shining face. That as Christ had not yet come and left HIS HOLY SPIRIT to dwell in his people, it meant that Moses glowed with seeing The Holy Spirit. How much more we should reflect His Radience if and when HE DWELLS IN US. When we are miserable or downcast we are really letting the Lord down big time. We are not LIVING in the spirit.
I wish I had your perspective. Isn’t it amazing that our God has given us such treasures to view and appreciate. God bless you for your leadership and ability to communicate the way you do.
Don’t you just love how the LORD speaks to us through His creation?
He is an awesome Creator! Amazing and all-wise! And we get to enjoy Him…
Thanks for giving me a pause to think about the wonder of our God!
How overwhelming is the God who loves us and gives us His creation to marvel. I too am convicted, for I am His creation as well.
Lord, Help me reflect who You are.
Thank you Del for all you give us. You are a reflecting lake.
“The glory of God is man fully alive!” Praise God that His Holy Spirit makes us fully alive, purifies us, and eventually makes us a reflection of who He is! I can’t wait to live in His fully restored kingdom when we will all do that perfectly, what glory that will be.
Del, your comments remind me of a billboard I once saw. It read “Be the moon, reflect the SON!”
This struck me powerfully because Moon is my maiden name and it reminded me of what I should be doing…letting the world “see” Jesus on my face and in what I say and do. Thank you for what you do for the Lord!. We need more people and ministries pointing to the truth of the scripture and lies of the world!
Thank You for your words of inspiration. We all
seem to have those moments in our lives that seem
to amaze us. We just seem, as you say, to forget
that all these spectaular sites were all made by
our MAKER. Have not figured out as of yet, how we manage to take all these for granted.
How refreshing it is to have someone remind us
that our GOD, OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST
sent his HOLY SPIRIT to comfort and dwell within
each and everyone of us so that we CAN appreciate his SUPERNATURAL WONDERS!
WOW! This was so good that I just have to print it for a book I am putting together for my children and grandchildren as a legacy.
Wonderful story Dr. Tackett! Everyday I wake and thank God for another day of life and for the beauty and sustanance He provides just outside the door. Thanks for sharing your corner of the world in Colorado.
Beautiful. The prophetic word always brings glory to Jesus and His work. Thank Del.
What a stunning example of discipleship, reflecting my Lord and Creator. I thought dying to self was giving up too much but now I see that it’s the highest honor for an ordinary person, much like that lake, to reflect the Best of All.
Thanks for todays encouragement. Reminds me of the beautiful area I live in(Salt Lake City,Utah) and to reflect on how well His Image comes through in my daily life.
I wish I were as faithful as she (the lake).
Dr Tackett your blog has taken me into a deep cave. I consider the lake, the what’s, the where’s, and the why’s of who made it and who made me.
The lake gives life to man, animals, fish, plants.
The lake gives beauty to the senses.
The lake give glory to it’s creator, God.
The lake provides the purpose of the creator and provides the most humble response - to give back the God the ultimate reflection of His glory.
I am humbled as I compare the lake to myself.
I continue to discover the glory, the mystries and the revelations God is showing me as I walk thru this cave. Thanks
We lived in Evergreen, CO. and loved camping near that lake below the Maroon Bells. That campground was closed due to the threat of possible avalanche. We took a picture much like yours and after looking at it, without studying it, we couldn’t tell if it was right-side up or upside-down — It looked equally beautiful either way. God’s creation Majesty glows in the picture. Thanks.
Thank you Dr. Tackett!
It is wonderful how God’s creation reminds us of HIS handiwork (Psalm 19:1-6). All we have do is look around us to be reminded of God, our Creator. Thanks for your regular observations.
This is so beautiful and is God’s wonderful handiwork; a gift to us all!! Thank you, for sharing this with everyone!!
Thank you for such a wonderful and timely message. My husband and I had an opportunity to drive to Colorado this past weekend to view the beautiful Aspens. We were so blessed by our visit and give God the glory!
Our adult Sunday School class is now in a study of David. Last Sunday, we spent some time in 1 Sam 16, and other places that discussed the Spirit coming on David at the selection, and contrasting the evil spirit coming to Saul (some real questions with this one!). As we discussed, we talked of the change in the revelation of the Spirit in the Old Testament, over against the times after Pentecost.
Some of the same things mentioned above emerged in our discussion — having the Spirit reflect from each believer, something that may not existed during David’s time, or at least in the same way. What a challenge David offers in how to become “a man after God’s own heart.” How does the idea of reflecting the Spirit, and being “a man after …” intersect?
Nature surely does provide a playground for God’s creation. I have a business that requires being outside all the time, in and around residences, woods, streams, etc. Watching the birds of the air, ground animals, and land animals (not into the water stuff!) makes one realize how intricately nature is created. The balance in plants, land, and animals is beyond imagination, when one digs deep.
Thanks to Dr Hackett for the blog, but also thanks for the many great stories of response. Great stuff in the responses too!
Reflection. As the lake reflected the majesty of the mountains behind it so we reflect the majesty of our Lord and Savior and our Creator and Father. The lake in its truest form gives a perfect reflection. How I wish I could give such a reflection! But, as I go from day to day, seeking God, I grow more like Him and the image I reflect becomes more like Him. Some day, we shall see Him as He really is and we will be like Him. I look forward for that day!
Thanks Del,
I think I was about 12 yrs old (55yrs ago) when we first camped at the Maroon Lake campground. The ‘Bells’ are as beautiful today as then but because of Jesus,I’m a lot more beautiful than I was then!
This is quite an illuminating post you have shared with us. After all is said and done, it is CHRIST in us,the hope of glory! Thanks and God bless your sharing of the TRUTH.
Thanks so much for standing so tall & humble in the middle of so many who stand so small. The Truth Project is one of the most impacting series’ I have ever seen; it continues to stay in my mind months after we finished it. I love reading your reflections here & thanks for sharing your walk with us. It is always encouraging & challenging! May the LORD continue to bless your work & your walk.
OUR GOD SPEAKS IN SILENCE READ HAB. 2:20 BUT THE LORD IS IN HIS HOLY TEMPLE, LET AAL THE EARTH BE SILENT. AT GETTYSBURG NTIONAL PARK. THE SAME VERSE WAS ON MY CALENDER 5 DAYS LATER. WITH A PICTURE OF MAROON BELLS WHICH I SAW A DAY OR TWO AFTER READING DEL’S POST. COINCIDENCE NO! A GOD WHO SPEAKS!!!!
“Well, Job 12 tells us to learn from the creation: the animals teach us, the birds tell us, the fish inform us, and the earth will teach us…if we will listen. Today, I learned a lot from an old, non-descript mountain lake.
It convicted me. I wish I were as faithful as she.”
It is a blessing to be plain and simple - not just physically but in all ways. It leaves more room for God.
Thank you. Just what I needed. A beautiful glimpse of God’s creation. And a word to ponder - reflecting!
I live in west central Ohio. I often complain about the lack of beauty here as compared to the mountains or the beaches; however, God took me to task very early this morning. I was walking the dog and the stars were brillant. I could not help to think about tour # 4 which our group took last night. God is awesome, his handiwork indescrible- just look at the heavens, the stars WOW!!! It is surely about him!!!
I am a homeschool mother of 6 children. I have 10 month old twins and a 2 year old toddler. I daily struggle with anger, and I seem to flunk the same test day after day as the pressure to get everything done is so great. It is so important to be convicted of this, that we are sometimes the only example of Christ’s love to our children. We do bare hid Name, we reflect him, and we ought to take this honor more seriously. Thank you for this reminder.
THIS was truly inspiring. I hope you don’t mind, I have that lake picture as my desktop wallpaper as a reminder. It truly is an example. Thank you so much! It IS all about HIM!