One of the common sights on Facebook is to see your wall packed with quizzes your friends have taken to determine which person/place/thing they are most like. Superhero, Greek philosopher, character on Lost, Protestant Reformer, Care Bear, whatever, people seem to have this need to see themselves reflected in someone or something other.

I suspect the reason for this is that each one of us cannot bear the thought that there is something inherently wrong in each of us that makes us unworthy of acceptance and love. I and only I am the weirdo. Me, myself, and I are the flawed trinity of worthlessness. If I am like Ross on Friends, at least I know I have some value and meaning. Only then do I have some connection to this thing called life.

The Bible says this:

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
—2 Corinthians 3:18

I find it odd then that when many Christians look into the mirror, they immediately rebuff any thought that what they are seeing reflected is Jesus. What strikes me is that people tend only to see what is not Jesus in themselves, almost never what is. In fact, to even say something along the lines of “I serve other people in the same way that Jesus did” comes off as arrogant and smug. The truth is, it is anything but. It’s exactly what we should be saying as a holy people who are becoming more like Him day by day.

Which is better for our souls, to revel in the fact that some made-up quiz said that we are most like Samwise Gamgee or to agree with the Bible that we are like Jesus?

One of those matters. I’m aiming for the latter.