In the early 90s, our swat team was sent to locate an armed murder suspect. The search led us to the suspect’s family’s house.  After we cleared the inside of the residence, it was my job to check the outbuildings. There was a walk-in shed in the backyard, so I started there. 
This all occurred before we had decent equipment. Everything I carried that night had a Vietnam-era soldier’s name stenciled on it. It was all surplus stuff. So, there was no light on my 30-year-old M16. The search took place at night, and it was dark. 
I opened the shed door and stepped inside to see if anyone was hiding there. I immediately noticed something moving in the dark. As my eyes adjusted, I saw the outline of a man standing in front of me. He was dressed in military fatigues and pointing a rifle at me. In the milliseconds it took my brain to orient, my finger moved to the trigger. I hoped I wouldn’t be shot before I could respond. 
Just as I was about to squeeze off a round, I noticed something about the threat in front of me. I hesitated for a second and looked closer. Then I saw it. The man standing in the dark, the one pointing the rifle at me….was me! 
In the back of the shed, there was a full-length mirror facing directly towards me. The guy in the fatigues with the rifle was my reflection. Thankfully, no rounds were fired (by either of us) and I composed myself enough to finish clearing the shed. I decided not to mention that I almost shot a hole in the shed because of that mirror. 
“Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.” (James 1:23)
Mirrors are great tools. They reflect the image of our outward self and allow us to make the needed adjustments. Mirrors don’t lie. They tell it like it is; the good, the bad, and the ugly. 
God’s word is like a mirror for the soul. The Bible gives it to us straight, the good and the bad. It reveals our inward self and allows us to make adjustments as needed. Simply hearing God’s word is not enough. He expects us to obey it. 
“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” (James 1:22)
The journey of faith is about transformation. Salvation comes by grace alone through faith alone. Yet this is intended to lead to a life of obedience. God doesn’t allow us to remain as we are. He shapes us to become more like His Son, preparing us for eternity. He does this through obedience to His word.

“He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.” (2 Corinthians 5:15)