What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs – beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. Matthew 23:27 NLT
Masks cover, hide, disguise. They can protect us. But they also keep us from being accurately seen. We as humans are very vulnerable to wearing a mask, even as Christians. We often feel like the best service we can do for God is to pretend we have it all together. We feel like we need to wear a mask of strength when we are at our weakest, exhibit courage and confidence when we are actually fearful, carry an aura of peace when our world is in chaos and turmoil. It seems easier to just wear a mask to meet our deepest needs for security, significance, and acceptance.
Jesus called out the religious leaders in His days on earth for wearing masks, putting forth images of themselves that were far from the truth inside. They were dead on the inside even though the image they portrayed looked really good. They were hiding their weaknesses and sins. That’s what we are hiding when we wear masks. We want to protect the outside, to appear perfect, flawless, wise, secure, in control, and confident. We can change who we appear to be depending on our environment and who is there.
Masks may seem to meet needs on a shallow level for a time. But they are very destructive in the long run. First, worn long enough, masks lead to self-deception. You begin to believe your own press, and when you look at yourself, you believe your mask is really you. Revelation 3:17 speaks of Jesus addressing followers who did this: “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.’”
Second, masks keep you from being truly seen by God and by others. If you don’t let God and others see you, you can’t find healing, salvation, and redemption. You can’t fulfill the potential placed within you. You can’t have the thrill of being truly secure, significant, and accepted. You will miss the purpose for which you were created – to truly know God and make Him known.
Drop the masks. You will love seeing and being seen. The real you is uniquely beautiful and genuinely loved.
- What is God saying to you? Talk with Him, face to face. No masks. From the heart.