I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. Psalm 139:14
We all know people who work very hard at attempting to portray an image that will convince people that they are something that they are not or an image that will keep people from knowing who they really are. In fact, we are all probably guilty of this at some level.
I personally (before knowing Jesus as Lord of my life) used to pretend to be a very tough, hard and strong person. Someone who needed no one and never asked for help. What a lie. I used this temporary mask to keep people at arms length so that they couldn’t hurt me and I needed help more than even I knew.
I say that this is a temporary mask, because we can only keep this up for a period of time, before people find out. The scripture says “For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all.” Luke 8:17 (NLT).
The sad fact about pretending to be something or someone that we are not is that our Heavenly Father created each of us with specific purpose and Psalm 139:14 tells us that we are wonderfully made. The plans He has for us and His thoughts toward us are wondrous (You have multiplied, O LORD my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told. Psalm 40:5)
We were each created perfectly, for the deeds that He prepared before hand for us to do (For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)).
Our pasts (before we accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior) should not be hidden, they should not be celebrated, but they should not be hidden either. The old bondage and sin that God rescued us from is part of what glorifies Him the most. It brings Him honor and He can use it to rescue others from eternal damnation, if we will share how much He has rescued us from. So we should not pretend that we were ever something that we were not or wear temporary masks to hide it.
Who we are should be a praise to God, because Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, and God is using us to draw others to Him so that they too can be forgiven and spend eternity in Heaven with Him. And, if that is the case, why would we pretend to be anything else?
Or, we are hiding who we truly are. Perhaps we are a Christian who is afraid of what people will think (For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10). Maybe we are a Christian who doesn’t think they are good enough, Jesus Himself said that you are dearly loved by God (for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. John 16:27) you are more than enough. You may be someone who does not know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and are probably wearing a temporary mask (like I used to) Jesus came that you could be forgiven, don’t hide your sin behind a temporary mask, repent of them (Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. Proverbs 28:13).
I pray that, on the brink of this New Year, we would all take off our temporary masks and be all that God created us to be. I pray that we would recognize how beautiful we are in His sight and that there is power in being who He created us to be. Those temporary masks won’t last and when they fall away there is shame, but when we confess them to the Father and take them off we are walking in His strength and power and in that there is freedom (But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9). Take off your mask and walk in power, strength and freedom!
If do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and if you are tired of pretending and wearing temporary masks, I pray that you would go to our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/), take off your mask(s) and pray the prayer that is outlined there. Through your repentance and Jesus shed blood, you can be forgiven and can find a peace, strength, forgiveness and love the likes of which you have never known and you can finally be that person that you were created to be. Please pray, and once you have reach out to me at admin@Forgiven-N-Loved.com and let me know so that I can be in prayer for you.
Luv ya!
