People often wear masks to hide who they truly are inside. These masks are built on one’s false self that seeks security and significance by what it HAS, what it DOES and what others THINK of it. It finds its identity in the self it portrays to others through performance. One achieves this identity by pretense and is maintained through its own effort and control. The false self wears a mask so no one can see the “real you.”
The true self, on the other hand, seeks security and significance by being deeply loved by God. Its fulfillment is found by surrender to God. Identity comes from who it is and what it is becoming-in Christ. Instead of its own efforts and control, it is maintained by grace.
In Luke 10, there is a contrast between two sisters that shows the difference between understanding the true love and grace of God, and trying to seek security and significance by what can be achieved.
In the story, we learn that Jesus and his disciples came to a village where Martha opened her home to him. Her sister simply sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to Him. However, Martha felt that she had to make all the preparations and make sure everything was right. She asked Jesus to have Mary help her, but Jesus told her that while she was worried and upset about many things, only one thing was really only needed (and that was to be with Jesus). He told her that Mary had chosen which was better, and it would not be taken away from her.
Sometimes the masks we wear can be business for God. We can be volunteering at church, preaching the gospel on street corners, feeding the homeless, etc. But are we spending time with Jesus? Are we allowing His grace to melt our masks away so we can be our true self?
Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 2:5 that he resisted putting on a mask to cover up something in his life. He wanted to be real with everyone he encountered. Greek actors never used to show their faces. It was all behind a façade. The word, Hypocrite, literally means “one who wears a mask.”
Some put on a mask out of fear they will not be accepted or viewed as unworthy of acceptance. Others do because they fear that others won’t protect them and leave them feeling naked and alone. But this just paints a deeply dishonest caricature of what is happening in life.
How will you lay down your mask and be authentic with those around you?
