01 Jul Take Your Mask Off

Have you ever been in a season of life where you are shopping for a new car, let’s just say a SUV, and all of a sudden you notice every SUV around you? It was something you hadn’t been aware of before, but now can’t help but notice every one you see? As I have been reading scripture over the past months, I have come across several passages that refer to a mask. Interesting how that happens, right? They never caught my attention before, but now I can’t believe what I am reading.

Face masks. They have become quite the topic of debate lately. I am sure you have your opinion about them, as I have mine. However, that is not what I want to discuss today as I think there is a much deeper issue going on that many Believers aren’t even aware of. We are quick to want to understand what is happening in the physical realm, especially when it comes to the virus and whether we should or shouldn’t wear a face mask, yet we have no idea what is going on in the spiritual realm, which is why I want to address it today.

Year of the Mouth

For the past few months I haven’t been able to get it out of my mind that according to the Hebrew calendar, this is the year of the mouth. As I have shared endless times before, the words that come out of our mouth matter. It’s with our words that we have the power to speak death or life. And being that it’s the year of the mouth should make us that much more aware of what is coming out.

Isn’t it interesting that the enemy has used face masks to cover up the very body part that God says we need to be using right now? It’s no accident, that is for sure. I believe the physical face masks are actually a representation of what we as the church look like in the spirit realm. The timing of the Saharan dust also is a prophetic sign to where we are as a church body. Covered up in a haze, not even aware of what is happening. We have become apathetic and instead of coming alive in the midst of what is going on, we have been overshadowed by a deep fog. Although this isn’t what I want to focus on today, I tell you this because I think it’s important to keep in mind before reading what I am about to share.

Scripture on Masks

“Kind words can be a cover to conceal hatred of others, for hypocrisy loves to hide behind flattery. So don’t be drawn in by the hypocrite, for his gracious speech is a charade, nothing but a masquerade covering his hatred and evil on parade. Don’t worry—he can’t keep the mask on for long. One day his hypocrisy will be exposed before all the world.” Proverbs 26:24-26

“Let the inner movement of your heart always be to love one another, and never play the role of an actor wearing a mask. Despise evil and embrace everything that is good and virtuous.” Romans 12:9

“Since you call on him as your heavenly Father, the impartial Judge who judges according to each one’s works, live each day with holy awe and reverence throughout your time on earth.” 1 Peter 1:17

The Aramaic of the word “works” in this verse can be translated, “no one will put on a face mask before him.”

“So abandon every form of evil, deceit, hypocrisy, feelings of jealousy and slander.” 1 Peter 2:1

The Aramaic of the word “hypocrisy” in this verse can be translated, “wearing a face mask.”

Isolated and Covered Up

There you go. 4 verses that I have stumbled upon while in the Word, all of which reference a mask. And every single one of them has to do with trying to cover up. Something that many of us are doing today.

Covering up is nothing new as it’s the exact thing that Adam and Eve did in the garden. Genesis 3:6-7 says, “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.” 

Just as with Adam and Eve, the enemy has many of us right where he wants us. Isolated and covered up. Physically, we are isolated from others, even though God created us to live in community. And spiritually we are covered up, living in sin and shame.

Covering up and staying isolated will forever hold us back from living a life of freedom, which is what God intended and sent His son to pay for. Staying hidden also prevents us from having a relationship with the Lord and disables us from understanding our true identity, which should be rooted in Him. Keeping a mask on will continue to prevent us from walking in the full inheritance and destiny God has for us.

Remove the Veil

“We are not like Moses, who used a veil to hide the glory to keep the Israelites from staring at him as it faded away. Their minds were closed and hardened, for even to this day that same veil comes over their minds when they hear the words of the former covenant. The veil has not yet been lifted from them, for it is only eliminated when one is joined to the Messiah. So until now, whenever the Old Testament is being read, the same blinding comes over their hearts. But the moment one turns to the Lord with an open heart, the veil is lifted and they see. Now, the ‘Lord’ I’m referring to is the Holy Spirit, and wherever he is Lord, there is freedom. We can all draw close to him with the veil removed from our faces. And with no veil we all become like mirrors who brightly reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus. We are being transfigured into his very image as we move from one brighter level of glory to another. And this glorious transfiguration comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:13-18

Scripture doesn’t just address masks, but it addresses the veil that we often try to hide behind too. The Father’s heart is always that we draw near to Him. When we do, we are able to reflect His life to all those around us. But, this can’t happen when we stay covered up.

Evil Won’t Prevail

It is our responsibility to take off our own masks, no one can do it for us. But, another aspect of these verses I want to point out is there always will be evil among us, those who remain fully masked. They are part of the evil schemes of the enemy and while the battle is not against them, it’s important to be aware. Currently my heart is grieved over the amount of evil happening right before our eyes. The masks that people are hiding under have led to the manipulation of many. But just as 1 Peter 2:1 says, we are to abandon every form of evil. Every form. I have had to remind myself and I want to remind you too, that the evil that we are currently seeing unfold will not prevail. However, you and I have a role to play in this. It’s going to take unmasked Christians, like you and I, to help be the light and outshine the hurting, dark and masked world.

Take Your Mask Off

Whether or not we realize it we are probably all hiding behind a mask. What is the mask you are hiding behind? What are you trying to cover up? Shame? Jealousy? Unbelief? Disappointment? Poor decisions? Bitterness? Sin? Pain from your past?

You and I will never be able to live a holy, spiritually mature life with a mask on. We can try all we want to hide in our evil ways, but there is no hiding from Him.

It’s time to take your mask off and step into your identity. It’s time for the veil to be lifted and for the face mask to be removed. It’s time for you to seek Him to heal the deep wounds of your heart so you can open up to all He has for you.

Will you accept His invitation to live a life unmasked, with no veil to hide behind?