What is “The Great Mirror of Life?”

It’s simply how I refer to this mysterious and miraculous world.

Light, trees, water, air, children, gardens, living creatures, and so many stars.

Of this world Moses writes,

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth...Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” Gen 1:1, 31—2:3

From this it can be understood that all creation retains a mark, an impression, a signature, and a likeness to the Good Divine One. And as the Creator is also made known as the One Who speaks, so too must nature. Can we hear her speaking? Are we sensitive to her messages?

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard…” Psalm 19:1-3

Some parts of creation are clearly visible. Others not so visible. Some animate and some inanimate. Yet, each seem to tell a story unique to the nature and character of the Great Creator of All. To discover and learn from each of these stories is the great challenge and enjoyment of those of us who are seeking to come to know our Maker.

Some of us are adept at looking and understanding the world without. Others of us are more in tune with the life within. In either case, there seems to be an underlying power and principle that works in both. What, or more percisely, Who is guiding and upholding all of creation? These are great questions which many have sought to answer.

But from here, I will refer to another author who speaks at the other end of the story.

The Beloved Apostle John writes,

"Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.” Revelation 21:1

Why? Isn’t the creation good and beautiful as it is? If we’ve been awake, we know that the beauty of creation, the great Mirror of Life, is mingled with something else, something so hideous that it begs us to ask the question, what kind of horror story is this?

Isaiah, speaking of the first great rebel against the Eternal Creator says this of that being of light once known as Lucifer, who is now named Satan —

"Those who see you will gaze at you, and consider you, saying: Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms, who made the world as a wilderness and destroyed its cities, who did not open the house of his prisoners?” Isaiah 14:16-17