A COVID-19 Christian. You may be asking yourself what does the virus have to do with being a Christian? Yesterday I wrote about how social distancing has affected those who proclaim they are Christ-followers. The virus is well known around the world and it has changed the way we interact with one another. Because the virus seems to be very contagious,” and to some deadly, most areas of the world have placed rules and regulations in place for each of us. These rules are for our protection and if everyone obeyed them it is supposed to slow down the number of infections. There are many views and attitudes as to what should and should not be done. Everyone seems to think their opinion is scientifically correct. We want to do our own thing and convince ourselves that it won’t happen to us. Unfortunately, what seemed to be a trusted view yesterday is not so today. So, those who want to obey the law and seek to stay safe, follow the rules set by the authorities. One of those laws where I live is wearing a mask when you are within 6 feet of another person.
While many fights against this law, and determine it’s their right to go without a mask, these same people wear a mask in other ways. Some never take them off. No, not a physical mask, an invisible mask to hide who they really are. They don’t allow others to view their true feelings. They are fearful of what others may think of them. Without a mask, we feel exposed and think others will see how inadequate and flawed we are. The truth is we are all flawed. We have all sinned and are not able to gain Heaven without Jesus.
Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
This invisible mask covers our emotions, our weaknesses, and our sins. It allows us to think we are ok as long as no one sees the real us. One of the great problems with wearing this invisible mask is that after time, we begin to believe we are ok. We can deceive ourselves so long we begin to believe the lie that “I am what I think myself to be.” Some go through their entire life without getting honest with themselves. When we seek to deceive ourselves and others we have lied. Colossians 3:9-10 warn us against lying to ourselves and others. When Christ forgives us and comes to dwell within us, the old man is put off and the way he acts is to be different. We are to put on Christ, it is Him that is to be seen when others see us. There is no longer a need for a mask. We are to be real and genuine. Will we be perfect? No, but our past sins won’t define who we are, and when we sin after we are saved we repent and He forgives. We will be defined by the one that owns us, Jesus.
Colossians 3:9-10 “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:”
God never intended for us to live wearing a mask. He desires change, changes to be like Him. Jesus gives us an account of mask wearers in Matthew 23:27-28 when He is speaking to the Pharisees. He gives a strong rebuke for their “wearing of self-righteous masks.” When we portray ourselves to be one thing on the outside, but we are inwardly different we are wearing the mask.
Matthew 23:27-28 “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”
Some say the physical mask is suffocating, but nothing is more suffocating than trying to keep everything hidden. Keeping the invisible mask in place so that no one knows our vulnerable areas can be debilitating. If the invisible mask wearers could only trust God enough to take it off, they would feel the freedom that comes from being totally honest. You can’t be right with God if you are not honest with yourself and others.
We must remember that God sees the heart. We can’t hide who we are from Him. Our goal as a Christian is to please Him and Him alone. If you’re wearing your spiritual mask you can take it off. You can’t hide or deceive God and no one else matters.
I Samuel 16:7b “for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
While it is important for us to obey the law of the land, act in love, and think of others above ourselves, it is vital that we remove the mask that is causing us to hide our true self from others. It also hides the Christ within us. So, take off that spiritual mask and enjoy the freedom of being honest with ourselves, others, and God.
