In the book ‘Coming to our Senses’, Bernham talks about that around the year 1500 there was a mass proliferation of a new invention: The mirror. After that watershed event in history, we see an increasing split within the self.

People, for the first time, started to live almost entirely outside of themselves. Bernham points out that America as made an art form out of it through Hollywood and Madison Avenue. We really don’t live inside anymore, but we live through others’ eyes. “Am I color-coordinated today?” “Am I attractive?” “Do I have a small enough waistline?” We don’t live in our bodies, where we can feel our own feelings and trust our own experience. Instead, through commercials and advertisement, we live in images and appearances. We let the media and passing material objects define success.

The self, therefore, is always outside, and we live in constant dissatisfaction. What a tortured way to live! We suffer, quite frankly, from a lack of contact with reality. Until we break the materials world hold on us and reestablish contact with reality, we will never be happy.

1Corinthians 3:12-15 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

Gold in its purist form is the only metal that you can see your full reflection in. Are you building your life, your ministry with wood, hay or straw? Or are you building with the only true “Foundation” that when you look into it you see Jesus?