In today’s society, amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have recommended that everyday citizens across the nation wear non-medical grade masks in order to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. Since this, an explosion of all sorts of masks have appeared on people when frequenting places such as grocery stores, pharmacies, outdoor walks, post offices, and restaurant drive-thru and pick-up. The masks have offered not only the potential protection from getting or spreading the coronavirus, but the opportunity to display creative characters or roles. People can be instantly transformed into their favorite superhero, movie character, or villain. The wave of society following the rules of standing six-feet apart, having less than 10 people in a gathering, frequent washing and sanitizing, disinfecting surfaces, and staying home if you are sick or immune-compromised has been innumerous. But, as all these rules take place, God wants to deal with what’s truly behind the mask. He wants our heart and obedience.
What is a Mask?
What are we wearing when we come to God? In ancient Greek theater, masks provided many opportunities for actors to play more than one role or gender with exaggerated expressions. It allowed audience members that were far away to see and was like a megaphone for people to hear at a distance. It vitally assisted the actor in taking on that particular character role. Some masks took on a life-like style within tragedy, and others were grotesque within comedies or satyrs. They were designed with light-weight materials such as cork, wood, and sometimes real hair. ( John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts)
What’s really behind your mask? Are you portraying more than one type of character? What stage is your performance?
“The originality of masks were created to project a sound loud enough not only to hear at a distance, but to allow the actor playing the character to take on a more defined realistic role.”
The Michael Jackson lyrics from his song “Behind the Mask” gives a great description on portraying a mask:
“All along I had to talk about it
But like a two edged sword,
He touched you and it stabs
All along I knew you were
A phony girl
You sit behind the mask
And you control your world
You sit around and I watch your face
I try to find the truth but that's your hiding place
You say you love me but it's hard to see
Cause when he's in your arms,
Your throwing rocks at me
Who do you love?
Is it me?
Well, I don't know
Who do you love?...”
As I listened to the song, I kept hearing God asking us, “Who do you love? Is it me? Well, I don’t know.” Although people may look obedient, God sees the depths of our heart. He wants to deal with the false security we have in Him.
Another example God revealed was a movie review of a mockumentary telling a story of a documentary where a film crew was following along with a young, up and coming director of a horror movie. This film was a parody of all classic horror films and it was full of cliches and tropes. The most interesting part of this film was that the actor playing the role was an actual serial killer instead of a movie director as portrayed in the film. He had everyone duped from the documentary film crew following him to the cast he was recruiting to play roles in this fake slasher film. This actor had all the right words and knew all the important parts of creating a great horror scene, but it was all a setup. Just because people are gathering and things look good, doesn’t mean it’s right. One can be a great leader and still be murderous in their heart.
2 Corinthians 4: 1-2 (MSG) reads verse 4 1-2 “Since God has so generously let us in on what he is doing, we’re not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times. We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don’t maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. And we don’t twist God’s Word to suit ourselves. Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God.”
Discernment is very crucial in this season. Wearing a mask distorts us from seeing and hearing God’s truth.The mask amplifies and actually draws closer the very deceit you are struggling with such as fear, doubt, envy, jealousy, or hatred. It’s very difficult to come against evil when you are wearing the same mask and performing on stage right along with the villainous behaviors of the world. Instead, allow God to remove the mask so you can clearly judge for yourself. True healing only comes when we are aware of what mask we need to lay down.
Are you believing more in what you see on TV press conferences and news reports than in God?
Hypocrites!
A 1st century B.C.E. theatrical mask called ‘Hypocrite’ comes from the Greek word ‘hypokrites’, which means “an actor” or “stage player”. Hypokrite translates as “an interpreter from underneath.” (Merriam-Webster 2020). God has not called us to be hypocrites!
1 Corinthians 8:2 (NLT) 2 “Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much.”
Matthew 9:4 (NLT) 4 “Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts?” God wants our hearts pure and clean.
2 Thessalonians 3:6 (NLT) 6 “And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from all believers who live idle lives and don’t follow the tradition they received from us.”
A Warning Against Hypocrisy
Luke 12: 1-3 (NLT) 1 “ Meanwhile, the crowds grew until thousands were milling about and stepping on each other. Jesus turned first to his disciples and warned them, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees—their hypocrisy. 2 The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. 3 Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!”
Jesus warned His disciples first! What’s hidden in the dark will come to the light. Keeping our face before God will not only remove the multiple layers of masks, but allow Him to guide and teach us of what’s coming. It’s difficult to hear from God if your face is before other idols. Don’t be afraid to let God remove the masks and equip you wholeheartedly.
Luke 12:16-21 (NLT) 16 “Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. 17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ 18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ 21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
Closeness with the Lord is more valuable than anything! We are being called to remove the multiple masks and come off the theatrical stage of life in order for God to heal the innermost places of our heart. It’s time to deal with what’s behind the mask. As we get before God, we encounter that intimate place where the eyes of our heart and voice are purified! Who do you love? Our loving Father is patiently waiting for your answer.
