The Privileged Life: Oh, the Masquerades We Play…
“For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.” (Luke 12:2 NKJV)
If you come to our house, we have a tucked-away spot where you and your kids can let imagination run wild with a bunch of old costumes…leftovers from school festivals, plays, and vacation Bible schools.
You want to be Cinderella? Dress up in her ragged “cinders” dress or ride to the ball in a glittering gown. Go to a powwow as Pocahontas, enter a king’s court as a knight, dance as a medieval maiden, or become a Bible character. Attend a prairie picnic, roar through the flapper 1920s, paint portraits in Paris as Mary Cassatt, or get hitched as a Western bride. We’ve got hats, shoes, and magic fairy wands, too!
Our kids had so much fun playing make-believe. And to be honest, we grown-ups still like to get all gussied up when the occasion calls for it. Many young adults are into “cosplay,” dressing up at science fiction conventions as action heroes, video game warriors, or aliens (think “Trekkies”).
It’s easy to tell what’s real and what’s not when someone is wearing a costume or mask. But it’s a lot harder to discern when someone is covering up an identity that is not Christ-like.
Maybe it’s with a pasted-on artificial smile—a fake happy-face from pretending to have a perfect life when we’re full of turmoil or misery. Plastic masks eventually crack. True, we shouldn’t pretend to be perky all the time, but we do have a mission as Christ-followers to be joyful in serving others. The effort you make to love others in Jesus’ name will help you overcome weariness or despair, turning your smile into one that’s warm and genuine.
Sometimes it’s our dressed-up appearance, when we don the material trappings of life to appear acceptable. Our feelings of inadequacy can push us over-budget on clothing, cars, homes, vacations, or anything else to make us look superior to others. That’s definitely not the directive Jesus gave His disciples when He sent them out to preach and heal, telling them to “travel light” (see Luke 9:1-3). Our frontyard appearances won’t fool anyone if our lives are crumbling in our backyards.
The most sinister masquerade, however, is worn by those who pretend to be Christians but harbor evil in their hearts. In His “Sermon on the Mount,” Jesus warned His followers to “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15). He also reserved His worst condemnation for the hypocritical religious elite, calling them “whitewashed tombs,” outwardly beautiful but full of death and uncleanness inside (Matthew 23:27).
While promising rewards, the false teachers of Jesus’ day sought financial gain and power over their disciples—much as cult leaders do today in leading entire congregations astray with false doctrine.
Our Lord warns us to be discerning. We need to carefully examine His word and compare it against what comes from the world. Not everything claiming to be Christian is authentic. Jesus encourages us to be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16), especially when we minister to others in His name.
Most importantly, He has washed us clean of our sins and wants us to put on our new clothing—the covering of righteousness that He has earned for us through His death on the cross. If you have given your heart to Jesus, your countenance will reflect His light and hope—completely unmasked.
Let us say with the prophet Isaiah—“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels” (Isaiah 61:10).
Now that’s a garment that blesses all of us with great joy!
Jesus, thank You for the gift of Your beautiful presence that brings light to a darkened world. Unmask my tendency to hide my sins…remind me that You know all things about me and that all things will be revealed. Cleanse me now from all my unrighteousness, and dress me in the glorious robe of Your love and truth. Let my face reveal that You dwell in my heart, and help me share Your love with unabashed joy. In Your name, Amen.
Nancy C. Williams is a Christian wife/mom with a writing career spanning more than 40 years in business and journalism. Williams is the author of the novel To Love a Falcon and the devotional book A Crocus in the Desert: Devotions, Stories, and Prayers for Women Experiencing Infertility. Her blogs are featured on Crossmap.com and AriseDaily. To follow Nancy’s posts and news, go to her home page at NancyCWilliams.com and subscribe at the bottom.
© Copyright 2024 Nancy C. Williams (text and photography). Unless otherwise noted, Scripture verses are taken from the New King James Version®, Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. #mask #costume #dressup #masquerade #fairytale #vbscostume #falsedoctrine
This past week, I had a blast at a 1950s-themed fundraiser luncheon with two of my sweet friends, Cyndi and Michele—Michele won the best-costume prize with rolled up jeans, sneakers, ponytail, and her husband’s old varsity letter jacket. I didn’t have a poodle skirt, but I made an effort by wearing my grandmother’s jewelry, a French-twist hairdo, some cat’s-eye glasses, and my peep-toe pumps.
