This post is written by Linda Green, Director of Women's Ministries at The Orchard.
This picture of my grandchildren is sweet, but I would much rather see Ben’s (a.k.a. Spiderman) blue eyes and endearing smile. While the mask covering his face troubles me, it probably troubles God even more when we wear masks that attempt to keep Him—and others—from looking into our hearts.
In the beginning, Adam and Eve enjoyed intimacy with God and one another without fear or shame until their disobedience sent them into hiding among the trees of the garden:
“They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God. But the LORD called to the man and said, ‘Where are you?’ And he said, ‘I heard the sound of You in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked, and I hid myself’” (Gen. 3:8-10).
From birth, we are bent toward rebellion to God’s authority. Mercifully He pursues us, lovingly calling, “Where are you?” God wants us to recognize we are lost and that it is only through the blood of Christ that He invites us out of hiding and into the light of His presence. Yet, too often we continue to live in hiding. Failing to grasp the full gospel, we go on struggling with guilt, shame, and fear, cowering behind masks that steal the joy and peace that is ours in Christ.
Among the masks we hide behind, self-sufficiency allows us to pretend we can live the Christian life on our own when our true sufficiency lies in Christ alone. We need God’s grace to speak a word that isn’t motivated by a desire to be noticed, or to do anything that doesn’t benefit self. It is not until we finally realize we are utterly helpless and powerless apart from His grace that we cry out, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Placing our trust in Christ rather than our own efforts, we realize we really can come out of hiding!
Yep, I prefer a picture of Benjamin without his mask. When I look into his blue eyes, I see a little boy who is both precious and exasperating in his rebellion. He has much to learn on his way to maturity, yet we all love and delight in him even now. Of course, when he acts out in defiance, his parents must discipline and allow him to suffer the consequences of his actions. But, that is precisely because they love him and desire for him to experience every blessing they yearn to give him.
Likewise, God, who alone knows the depth of our sin problem, is fully committed to training us through discipline until we are mature and complete in Christ. Meanwhile, He invites us to take off our masks so he can delight in us as we learn from Him and grow. And when we are tempted to run back into hiding, He reminds us that He is our true hiding place, and in Him is the safest place to be! (Psalm 32:7)
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