People love a masquerade ball. The hiddenness, the supposed confidence of being able to speak or act in a way you might not if your cover was exposed. The problem is, as The Penguin in Batman Returns comments, “You’re just jealous because I’m a real freak and you have to wear a mask.”

Why do we wear masks?

To hide.

We hide from fear of exposure.
We hide because of insecurity.
We hide to protect ourselves.

Masks of power, anger, independence. Masks of having everything together, superiority, confidence. Masks of humour, humility or holiness. Sometimes we’ve worn a mask for so long we don’t even recognise its presence anymore. We don’t want anyone to think that we’re the odd one out.

Please don’t see my freakiness.

Being exposed and feeling vulnerable isn’t something most of us would choose. But extended mask wearing is both tiring and damaging. You need only look at those caring for Covid-19 patients round the clock to see the mutilation that occurs. Their skin can’t breathe, their faces are bruised, deep lines are engraved where the mask adheres to their faces… the mask begins to change the person underneath, and not in a positive way.

Covering up 24/7 will harm you.

Jesus tells his disciples, “Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.” (Luke 12:2 ESV). You can’t hide forever. The truth will come out and “sooner or later the mask will slip and your true face will be known” (MSG).

It’s time to take off the masks and get real before God. You’re not doing yourself any favours by covering up. Jesus is calling time on hiding. He sees you completely – with all your failings, flaws and foibles.

There’s only one place that it’s safe to hide and it’s not behind a mask.

When we allow Jesus to strip away the barriers we’ve built we are fully exposed. Let’s die to our self-misperceptions so we can find full freedom “hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3 ESV).

Mask yourself with Jesus. Let Him transform what’s underneath.