"Please Remove Your Mask"
I remember the first time I went shopping with a facemask. My sister and I took a selfie. At that time, I decided I would keep the picture as a memento. As a memory of that strange, short phase where we had to wear masks whenever we went anywhere.
Now, many weeks (no, months!) later, I don’t even think twice about slipping the elastics behind my ears before entering a building or getting onto the bus. In fact, I don’t even notice the loud-speaker announcements inside busses anymore. They go something like this: “When inside public transportation, please wear a mask to protect yourself and the people around you.”
In so many places we are told to put on facemasks these days. It has become normal. Slip it on, slip it off. That got me thinking. What if someone asked the opposite? Just imagine. Something along these lines: “For your own good and the good of others, please remove your mask.”
Truth is, someone says exactly that, and that someone is Jesus.
Stop Faking It
The Bible clearly states that we have all fallen short of the glory of God, of being perfect (Romans 3:23).
We all struggle with temptation. We all struggle with sin. And most of us are pretty good at hiding it.
This world tells us how we should act to seem like we’re “good people”. Maybe give a monthly donation or smile at the homeless guy. Sadly, it is often the same in the churches. It is all about what it looks like, what we seem to be doing, etc. But none of this is a new occurrence. In fact, Jesus talked about it in the sermon on the mount about 2000 years ago.
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 6:1 ESV
We all know the famous sentence by William Shakespeare: “All the world’s a stage.” While he may have meant something different, I believe the statement is applicable here.
The whole world is acting, the whole world is wearing masks (and no, I don’t mean the ones due to Covid-19). The whole world’s a stage.
Please Take Off Your Mask
Our society was good at wearing masks long before 2020. And long after regulations to wear masks fall, they will continue to do so – in their hearts. I myself am very good at it, and there’s a chance you are too.
But we were never meant to hide how we’re truly feeling. We were never meant to hide the sin in our lives. We were never meant to hide our struggles. All of this must come out into the open. We must be real, and yes, we must be vulnerable about our shortcomings.
It’s not fun to let people look underneath our masks. It’s not fun to let them see our ugly sides. But hiding sin, hiding failure, hiding struggles has never made them better. Rather, it flourishes in hidden places. It grows.
Can’t Hide From God
It’s not only people we hide things from. Often, we also try hiding our sin and struggles from God. This, however, is pointless. Adam tried that, remember?
God already knows everything about us. Let’s not try to conceal our sin, our fears, our worries - anything - from God. Hiding things never makes them better. It only makes them worse.
Friend, let’s step up our game. Let’s be real. Let’s be real towards people and real towards God.
Next time you slip the elastics behind your ears, think about an area where you could remove your mask. And then, please do.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sarah Susanna Rhomberg is a young writer, who lives in Europe and is fluent in both English and German. When not writing, you will often find her reading or working on the organization of a camp for children – always with a mug of herbal tea at hand. Sarah wants to live her life for Christ and writes to glorify Him. Connect with her through her email list here (Sarah Susanna Rhomberg).