Text:           1 KING 14:1 – 5

By:              Avwokpeta, Esivwe

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One of the former state governor disguised himself as a woman to escape from Britain of charges of money laundering of €1.8M. The Guardian News Paper later revealed that, the governor returned to his home village, a folk hero after escaping Europe in a dress and on a forged passport.

This Day, published a photomontage of him in a red dress, necklace, head dress and lipstick. The governor said, and I quote “Today I am back at my desk, forever committed to serve my people and Nigeria. I thank the almighty God for His protection.” This governor deceived the Britain Authority by appearing and pretending to be a woman in order to escape punishment.

One of the traps we can fall into in life is pretending to be someone or something we are not. This admonition topic “Take of the Mask” will address;

1. The illusion of Mask
2. Example of pretending action showing why people wear masks

• The cost of wearing mask and its consequences.

1. Steps to “take of the mask”
2. THE ILLUSION OF MASK 

Now, if I wear the mask, what do you notice? 

• The mask covered part of my face.
• It makes me disguised.
• You can’t actually tell if I am smiling or frowning.
• It can actually hide a lot of things.

The conversation here is not what the scientists or doctors have been telling us about the mask and I’m not talking about the COVID 19 mask, I’m talking about the mask we’ve been wearing to try to hide what’s really going on in our lives, what’s happening in our souls, in our marriage, business, in our relationship. It’s about the emotional mask and the spiritual mask. It’s the mask you wear to church, to work and even around your spouse.

The analogy of “Mask” here depicts “PRETENCE”. It actually covers your true self. In 1 Corinthians 9:22, Paul said I became all things to all men. He never actually approved of a “Two-Faced” life as some may interpret it. In Galatians 2:11-21 (To be read), Paul rebuked Peter of pretending to have not been eating with the Gentiles Christians when he saw the Jewish believers coming.

• How authentic are you?
• Do you act one way before believers and another way before misbelievers and unbelievers?
• Do you act by what people say? Are you covering up something to become another before men?

The book of Prov.11:2 (To be read NIV) It says, the integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfruitful are destroyed in their duplicity. The word “DUPLICITY” here is deceitfulness in speech or conduct, speaking or acting in two different ways concerning the same matter with intent to deceive. As a matter of fact, the word Hypocrisy in the book of Matthew used to describe the Scribes and Pharisees was a word used in the Greek Theater. In a big stage, one actor would play up to 6 different parts and he is called a hypocrite. It was not really a derogatory term but actually a complement to the actor. They will meet the actor and tell him you are good at playing on a mask to pretend to be more than one actor on the same stage. Jesus said you can’t be one person here and another there. He is not interested in Two-Faced disciple. He is interested in the real you without any covering.

1. EXAMPLES OF PRETENDING ACTIONS SHOWING WHY PEOPLE WEAR MASK

• Pretending to be like those around us so we can fit in.

There are certain kinds of society living you should not adopt, because of the kind of money you are earning, but due to society pressure, you pretend to earn much and spend above your capacity. There are some persons who can go to a restaurant and millionaires are spending #100,000, #200,000 because their business will return that money that same night, but you who is coming financially, you also join them and spend the same amount and you go back home, they are sleeping but you cannot sleep because you spent out of proportion. This is masking to want to proof a point that you are also rich. You don’t spend because people are spending just because you want to fit in. When time comes you will. Just be yourself and avoid unnecessary stress.

• Hiding our true self because we’re afraid of judgment or rejection or want to impress people. Late Micheal Jackson experience (Invitation or pressure by friends or co-workers to a questionable gathering or habit or practice)
• Hiding our mistakes or weaknesses and pretending to be perfect. You mask when you behave like you have no flaws. You are deceiving people to be always the holiest and claim superiority over them.  That’s not your true self. We are vulnerable and these people must know as we live with them.
• A husband or wife who has toxic character but pretend to be perfect.
• Concealing offenses inwardly but pretending to have forgiven the offender.
• Faking something and deceiving someone to get what we want. Student pretending to be in school or case of the so-called gospel artist that killed his friend.
• Pretending to be hardworking only when your husband, your boss, or parent is watching. But in their absence, you will while away time – 6:5.
• When you make good profit, you can avail yourself in evangelism, but when profit drops, evangelism can hold on.

There are so many pretending actions. When we do these things, our subconscious state can sense that we’re treading in a dangerous territory. We feel disconnect or a guilty conscience.

Shakespeare said in one of his quotes

“To thine ownself be true”

  In another quote, says,

“Know yourself, be yourself, love yourself”. 

• THE COST AND CONSEQUENCES OF PRETENDING.

When we hide who we really are behind the mask and adopt a counterfeit persona, there can be a price to pay and serious consequences.

1. Pretending not to be yourself is exhausting.

When you pretend constantly in every aspect of your life in order to fit in with circumstance and people around you; you are likened to the changing pattern of chameleon. It is discovered that it is the protective or defensive reason for constant changes in the chameleon while this happens, the chameleon can be dying slowly. In like manner, as human beings; when we are not stable with our identity and will not stand our ground, every time we change, we are slowly dying psychologically, emotionally and even in some instance physically. Wearing mask can be so suffocating and stressful because you’ll put in a tight corner as you act differently from your true self.

2. There could come a time your mask could slip off and what you are hiding can harm you forever. Its not sin you can keep as secret from others. You can hide a terminal ailment from even your spouse. You can a problem that is tormenting you from Brethren that can lead to suicide. May you are ashamed or afraid. That shame becomes your mask you are using to cover up. If you are asked how are doing your response is always, I’m fine. People have lost their lives due to keeping silent marriages.

3. You can’t mask forever.

Rather than covering black with white in pretense, deal with the black and get your rest. A man in his lifetime was known to have just a wife and children. Surprisingly, at his funeral other women with children respectively surfaced to claim ownership and entitlement. Luke 8:17 (Chorus: You cannot hide it from God).

4. To pretend is to put yourself in an emotional pressure cooker. 

If you are pretending that everything is “fine” when it’s not, the unacknowledged feelings will build up inside of you until you can no longer pretend that you are fine. This can lead to depression, hypertension and high risk of suicide attempt on deadly actions.

5. Pretending can lead to regret 

In a way to prove a point, pretenders can spend the time and resources wastefully and regret not to have acted such a way. We learnt of some people who want to improve their skin, breast and other parts of their bodies through high-tech surgery, they regretted venturing into such because of the adverse effect. What about a student who made the parents believe he or she is in the University and makes demand for school fees and other huge expenses but he or she has been floating in the campus for good 4 to 5yrs.It will be a great regret to the individual and the parents.

6. Pretending can damage your relationship.

If you start a relationship pretending to someone who you are not; you are already building a castle in the air that will soon crash. When this happens, you’ll be disappointed with yourself and those at the receiving end.

1. STEPS TO “TAKE OF THE MASK”

According to one writer, Sofo Anchon, it is almost difficult to stop pretending or wearing masks. People can be so used to pretending or wearing a mask that their whole life is based on it. Therefore, to stop pretending would shake their lives from its very foundations, and only few people are courageous enough to do that.

These are some steps to take your mask.

1. SELF – REFLECTION

Examine yourself sincerely and spot out areas in your life where you may be hiding your true identity or pretending and the factors that possibly triggers them.

2. ACKNOWLEDGE THE DANGER

See this masking thing or pretense as a serious problem that can ruin your person, disconnect you from spiritual growth and destroy your relationship with God.

3. CONFESS AND EMBARK ON PRAYER AND FASTING.

Confess to God every area of pretense that has enveloped your life and relate with faithful and matured brothers and sisters who can engage in fervent prayer and fasting for transformative result

4. BE INTENTIONAL 

• Begin to say “no” when it is needful.
• Stop trying to please others
• Stop trying again try to imitate others.
• Speak the truth and be honest to yourself.

CONCLUSION 

Let us actively strive daily to live an honest life that aligns with our outward expressions, and avoid pretense, so that we can have a balanced relationship with men and satisfy reward from God.

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