WEARING A MASK

 

None of us wants to admit we are wearing a mask but if the truth be known, we all are. Each person born has a mask on. Since it was placed on us at birth we may not even be aware we have it on.

Adam and Eve were the first people that put on a mask. After Adam and Eve sinned they realized they were naked and made clothing for themselves out of leaves. They began to hide from God for the very first time. They have continually passed their masks down to every generation that followed them. The mask they put on was the mask self-righteousness.

And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. (Genesis 3:9-12)

Once they sinned, the very first thing they did was to hide from God. When God called out for Adam in the garden, Adam hid. The Lord asked him why he hid himself. Adam said, "I was naked and hid myself."

The Lord asked Adam, "Who told thee thou wast naked?"

Adam immediately said, "The woman whom thou gavest to me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat." If it hadn't have been for her, this would have never happened was Adam's analysis. Adam didn't see himself as someone vulnerable to making a mistake.

God had walked with Adam every day in the garden. God knew him in a very intimate way. The minute Adam sinned, he immediately reached for the mask. This object became a wall between Adam and God.

Before Adam sinned, he was okay with God seeing him as he was. The word "intimacy" could be broken down to mean "into me, see." Once he sinned, he was filled with fear, shame and blame. He didn't want the Lord to see him as he was after that point.

Are you wearing a mask to hide from God?

Are you afraid of the intimacy (into me, see)?

When Adam and Eve sinned, there was nothing prior set up for them to have forgiveness. They had never lived this life before. We see the blood of an animal promptly being shed so Adam and Eve could have covering.

Blood sacrifices started being made in the Old Testament. Sacrifices were not to pay for the sins of the people but they were a picture of what was to come. It was pointing to the day Jesus Christ would shed his blood on the cross so we would no longer have to wear the mask. We would be allowed to experience intimacy with the Lord.

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (Hebrews 9:22)

The Lord is asking you to remove the mask. This object is keeping a wall built up between you and God. By wearing it, you are saying, "Lord, I do not want you to look into me!"

He already knows what is there but he is waiting patiently for you to remove the mask and admit to him who you really are.

The Lord knew exactly where Adam and Eve were in the garden, yet he called out to them and asked them, "Where are you?" He wanted them to vocalize their need. Once this was done, the Lord met that need.

The Lord is longing and waiting to have a relationship with you but he cannot do it until you remove the mask. It may be one that you need to remove, or it may be ten masks.

Some may be wearing the mask of religion. This mask can do as much damage as any of the other ones. This one can give the world a sense that you have intimacy with God, when in fact, he isn't able to have a relationship with you because of the rituals and false pretenses you have learned to put on.

You could be at the point in your life that you have removed all the masks and when the Lord asks, "Where are you?" there is no response.

In order to have that relationship with him, you need to answer his call. Tell him where you are.

When you have removed all the masks, tell him and let him know you are searching for that intimate relationship with him. Seek the Lord with your whole heart, and I promise, he will meet you where you are.

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; (Ephesians 2:14-15)