What If We Are Real?
Most of us have done things that we wish we never did, and we carry the shame of those choices. There are also things that wish we could break free from. What would it look like if we were in a community where we were safe enough to remove our masks and still be loved? What sort of an impact could we have in our community if we were that kind of church?
Jesus wants to invite each one of us to remove our masks, to be honest with him, to experience healing, hope, freedom, and ultimately tremendous influence.
Jesus wants to invite each one of us to remove our masks, to be honest with him, to experience healing, hope, freedom, and ultimately tremendous influence.
3 Reasons We Wear A Mask
1. To hide our failures. In Genesis 2, we read that God made Adam and Eve in his image, and it was good. Adam and Eve were perfect in perfect relationship with each other, and they were in perfect relationship with God. There was a high level of trust that existed. There was a high level of transparency that existed. Genesis 2:25. Adam and his wife were both naked and they felt no shame. Not because their bodies were perfect, but because they had no fear that the other would condemn or shame them. Unfortunately, it doesn't stay that way. First, God gives Adam and Eve some boundaries. In Genesis 2, we read that God warns them from eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Eating from that tree would result in independence from God. It meant that their relationship with God would be broken. Choosing to do life their way would result in trust and transparency being destroyed.
When the serpent lies to Eve and she eats the forbidden fruit, along with Adam, their eyes were opened, and they felt shame.
They sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. When Adam and Eve chose to be independent of God, they made themselves central. They put their own interests first. They now had the ability to be selfish and put each other down. So they hid. They now had the ability to judge each other if it made them feel better about themselves. Eve now doesn't trust Adam. She's now afraid that she will be shamed. And Adam is no longer at peace with God because now there is a huge gap between what he chose and God's best for him and that gap.
2. To conceal our shame and pain. Not only do we try and hide our shame, but often we do the same with our pain. Sometimes through life, when it's so painful, we choose to hide. Sadly, there are things that have happened to us, things that we had no choice in. And those things sometimes are so painful that we hide. Genesis 3:8 So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. And you and I, do exactly the same thing. We also have a tendency to think that when we've sinned after we've turned our back on God, God doesn't want to have anything to do with us. But nothing could be further from the truth. Read verse 9. Then the Lord God called to the man and said, Where are you? Why is God asking where are you? He knows exactly where they are. You see, God still wanted to be with them. Think about it in your worst moment. In our worst moments. In my worst moments, God actually is drawing close to us. He actually wants us in those moments. He's calling us out. He wants us to be with him in those moments. Verse 13. Then the Lord God asked the woman, What have you done now? Why is God asking this question? God knew exactly what they had done. He's asking this question because he's inviting them to be honest. He's inviting them to remove their mask and dare to be real.
3. To avoid rejection. You know, our fear is if you really knew me, if you really knew what was going on, would you still love me? Would you still accept me? Would you still be there for me? Or would you choose not to have anything to do with me?
When the serpent lies to Eve and she eats the forbidden fruit, along with Adam, their eyes were opened, and they felt shame.
They sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. When Adam and Eve chose to be independent of God, they made themselves central. They put their own interests first. They now had the ability to be selfish and put each other down. So they hid. They now had the ability to judge each other if it made them feel better about themselves. Eve now doesn't trust Adam. She's now afraid that she will be shamed. And Adam is no longer at peace with God because now there is a huge gap between what he chose and God's best for him and that gap.
2. To conceal our shame and pain. Not only do we try and hide our shame, but often we do the same with our pain. Sometimes through life, when it's so painful, we choose to hide. Sadly, there are things that have happened to us, things that we had no choice in. And those things sometimes are so painful that we hide. Genesis 3:8 So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. And you and I, do exactly the same thing. We also have a tendency to think that when we've sinned after we've turned our back on God, God doesn't want to have anything to do with us. But nothing could be further from the truth. Read verse 9. Then the Lord God called to the man and said, Where are you? Why is God asking where are you? He knows exactly where they are. You see, God still wanted to be with them. Think about it in your worst moment. In our worst moments. In my worst moments, God actually is drawing close to us. He actually wants us in those moments. He's calling us out. He wants us to be with him in those moments. Verse 13. Then the Lord God asked the woman, What have you done now? Why is God asking this question? God knew exactly what they had done. He's asking this question because he's inviting them to be honest. He's inviting them to remove their mask and dare to be real.
3. To avoid rejection. You know, our fear is if you really knew me, if you really knew what was going on, would you still love me? Would you still accept me? Would you still be there for me? Or would you choose not to have anything to do with me?
How Do We Remove Our Masks
- By being honest with ourselves. I love what the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 7I remember before Paul's incredible encounter with Jesus some years earlier, Paul was a Pharisee. He knew the law better than any of us. He knew the Bible better than anyone. He prayed three times a day and he fasted twice a week. For Paul, it was all about being seen to have it together as a Pharisee. He was a professional mask warrior, but his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus would dramatically change everything. Now, instead of trying to impress people, Paul takes off his mask and dares to be real.
- By being honest with God. First John one nine says this, “But if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
- By being vulnerable with safe people. My experience has been you're going to have to seek that person out. Choose someone who's walking with the Lord, who's a good listener who doesn't try to fix you. You know, we're not obligated to share all of our stories with every person, but there need to be some people in our life that we can be completely honest with.
The Result of Removing Our Masks
- Freedom. When we keep our masks on, we remain in bondage. But when we're courageous enough to take off our masks, we're free. John 8:32 says, “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” it's hard work keeping a mask on, let me assure you. If you want to experience freedom, be willing to remove your mask.
- Wholeness. Remember the isolated woman from Samarra we talked about in John chapter 4. The woman came to draw water. She was coming to get her water supply for the day. But Jesus is actually going to offer her something far greater. You see, the water that he was going to offer her was living water. He was going to offer her something that would satisfy the deepest longings of her heart.
Next Steps
Imagine just for a minute that you are sitting alone with Jesus. What would you say to him? It's just you and Jesus. What are you going to say to him? And second, what do you think he might be saying to you right now? Take a minute to do that right now.