Masks

2 Corinthians 4:1-6 (NKJV): Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. ² But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. ³ But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, ⁴ whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. ⁵ For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Many of us sometimes feel we have to put on a mask when we are around others. We are afraid to open up about how we truly feel or even what it is we struggle with. In this passage, we see Paul encouraging The Church to not put on a façade.

Putting on a façade is what the world does. In fact, this is what is called hypocrite. Let’s look at the definition of hypocrite:

1 : a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion

2 Peter 3:8-9 (NKJV): But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

We know that the fact He wants to change us was talked about even before Jesus came. This was the main purpose of Him being here the first time.

In fact the most important thing we need to remember is that if we are not honest about what we deal with or that we even struggle, saying things like “I’m blessed” or “I’m good/ok” when in fact we are dealing with life’s struggles and are afraid to be honest, then essentially, we are saying we have no sin in our lives. The Word tells us that we do deal with sin and we need to ask for help. The sin could be worry, anxiety, anger, selfishness, among many.

We need to remember that however it is we choose to respond to the call to come clean, we are making disciples by our actions. Everything we do in our lives will either lead people to Jesus or away from Him. If we try to hide our struggles from others, try to play a part when we are in social gatherings rather than be who we truly are, we could end up making someone else fall. The more we try to hide these things the more they will come out. Who are we kidding anyway? God knows who we are truly and what our struggles truly are.

Let me encourage you today to not to try to hide who you are. Let others in. Let others help. Don’t try to play a part when you are around others. You never know what God will do for you and/or others in those situations.