Isaiah 25:7 (WEB)
[7] He will destroy in this mountain the surface of the covering that covers all peoples, and the veil that is spread over all nations.
[8] He has swallowed up death forever! The Lord Yahweh will wipe away tears from off all faces. He will take the reproach of his people away from off all the earth, for Yahweh has spoken it.
[9] It shall be said in that day, “Behold, this is our God! We have waited for him, and he will save us! This is Yahweh! We have waited for him. We will be glad and rejoice in his salvation!”
Mask on and off! The mask order came into inception at the height of Covid, with “no entry without a mask, face-covering mandatory, and many such notices.
Amazing! We are told to not have any sort of facial covering that may obscure our features on passport photos but now we must wear them to protect who exactly?
Man in disguise is a term because that’s what masks do-disguise one.
Criminals used to wear a mask to disguise their faces to avoid recognition, and if a masked man stopped us or came to our door, we will be terrified, but the opposite is the case today. You can almost do nothing or go anywhere without a mask.
A mask is an object that covers part or all the face, head, and sometimes the entire head. The mask serves as a marker for characterization in some communities, religious groups, and ceremonies.
Mask on and off! Are there some people still not wearing masks today? Everyone has masks on-I’m talking about the spiritual, emotional, and psychological mask-the mask no one can see but you know is there. A mask is a covering concealing something, like the veil on Moses’ face to cover the glory of the Lord Exodus 35:33-35.
Are you wearing a mask?
A spiritual mask, any?
You can hide from man, but nothing can hide from God according to Hebrews 4:13 and even as you’re hiding, the Lord is coming in search of you to redeem and deliver you.
There are so many of us hiding behind masks to cover our pain, fear, insecurities, and shame, either because we don’t want to be judged, ignored, labelled, or left behind. So many are suffering mentally, spiritually, and more, yet not receiving support according to Philippians 2:4.
Are we so busy and unable to offer support to those suffering around us? We see friends, neighbours, colleagues, and even the passer-by on the street suffering but ignore them because “it’s not my business,” “you’re in a hurry,” “you couldn’t be bothered.” Why? Because we are either too selfish, too proud or have not yet realised that we are to love everyone. Love is a verb, an action word according to Mark 12:31.
If a prisoner (Joseph) in Genesis 40:4-8 could see the suffering on the faces of his mates and offer comfort, and compassion born of godly love, why can’t we offer the same to those around us? He could have “minded his business” ignored their pain, or think he has his issues.
Everyone has issues but looking beyond your pain to see someone’s suffering and offering comfort may just be where and how you get your breakthrough.
Mask off! Mask on!
Have you become so comfortable with the mask on that you no longer recognise yourself without it? Consider that says Haggai 1:7, don’t allow the mask covering your face and glory to blur the lines between your self-sufficiency and your need to depend on God.
Mask off! The covering, the pall of death or darkness hanging over all humanity is not the Lord’s desire, He wants to unveil us for His to be seen through us. The illumination of God can overturn and overshadow whatever is covered with the “mask on.” Decide today if you want to hide God’s light in you. Mask off!
Shalom