THROUGH THE MASK
My wife and I went to a restaurant for lunch. We peered in the window and saw a small crowd at tables. No one was wearing a mask. So, we decided to go in.
As we entered, I was a sign that said, “Masks Required”.
So, if I wanted to enter this particular restaurant, it was required I wear a mask. I wasn’t happy about it, but, it had been a long drive and we wanted to ‘support our local eateries’, so, grudgingly, I wore the mask. We approached the hostess stand and a young lady said, “Can I help you?”
“Yes, two for lunch, please”, I responded. “Sorry?”, she replied, “What did you say?” “Two for lunch, please”, I repeated. Her quizzical look told me she had not understood me. So, I held up two fingers and repeated, for a THIRD TIME, “Two for lunch, please.” She shook her head, slightly, from side to side, indicating she hadn’t heard or understood me.
So, I pulled the mask down and said, again, for the fourth time, “Two for lunch please.” She nodded. I removed my mask. We followed her to the table and were seated.
“THREE TIMES”, I thought. I had to say it THREE TIMES and it wasn’t until I removed the MASKING, and said it a fourth time, could she understand me. And this had not been the first time a similar thing had happened.
But, it happens when you try to talk THROUGH A MASK!
Politicians do that. They TALK THROUGH A MASK. You know it too. They do it deliberately, so we cannot understand them. They do it to conceal what they are up to. Their MASK is used for deceitful reasons.
Many government agencies do that too. They TALK THROUGH THEIR MASK. You know it too. They do it deliberately, so we cannot understand them, either. And, they too, do it to conceal what they are up to. Their MASK is used for deceitful reasons.
Some preachers do that too. They TALK THROUGH THEIR OWN KIND OF MASK. And, you should be aware of it. They do it deliberately, also. Their reason is so we cannot see them or know them for who or what they are really about.
They MASK their budgets. They MASK their salaries. They MASK their incomes. They MASK their agendas. They MASK their deeds and behaviors. They MASK their motives. They have secrets.
You see, so many of these “men of god”, are generally known by their words. They get a big pass on what they are doing because they MASK it with words. The really sad thing is that they have come to believe their own words to the point that they feel that telling others is enough. They believe they can just tell the rest of us WHAT THEY KNOW without actually having to DO IT themselves.
Jesus had to deal with these same MASK WEARING men during His earthly ministry.
Matthew 23:1 ¶ Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples,
2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses;
3 therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them.
4 “They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.
5 “But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments.
6 “They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues,
7 and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men.
I know this sounds harsh. But, hear the words Jesus has for these types: “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers;
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.
“You blind men, which is more important, the offering, or the altar that sanctifies the offering?
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.
“You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.
“So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous,
“You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?
“Behold, your house is being left to you desolate!”
REPENT and WALK HUMBLY before GOD!
1 Hear now what the LORD is saying, “Arise, plead your case before the mountains, And let the hills hear your voice.
2“Listen, you mountains, to the indictment of the LORD, And you enduring foundations of the earth, Because the LORD has a case against His people; Even with Israel He will dispute.
3“My people, what have I done to you, And how have I wearied you? Answer Me.
4“Indeed, I brought you up from the land of Egypt And ransomed you from the house of slavery, And I sent before you Moses, Aaron and Miriam.
5“My people, remember now What Balak king of Moab counseled And what Balaam son of Beor answered him, And from Shittim to Gilgal, So that you might know the righteous acts of the LORD.”
What God Requires of Man 6With what shall I come to the LORD And bow myself before the God on high? Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings, With yearling calves?
7Does the LORD take delight in thousands of rams, In ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?
9The voice of the LORD will call to the city— And it is sound wisdom to fear Your name: “Hear, O tribe. Who has appointed its time?
10“Is there yet a man in the wicked house, Along with treasures of wickedness And a short measure that is cursed?
11“Can I justify wicked scales And a bag of deceptive weights?
12“For the rich men of the city are full of violence, Her residents speak lies, And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.
13“So also I will make you sick, striking you down, Desolating you because of your sins.
14“You will eat, but you will not be satisfied, And your vileness will be in your midst. You will try to remove for safekeeping, But you will not preserve anything, And what you do preserve I will give to the sword.
15“You will sow but you will not reap. You will tread the olive but will not anoint yourself with oil; And the grapes, but you will not drink wine.
16“The statutes of Omri And all the works of the house of Ahab are observed; And in their devices you walk. Therefore I will give you up for destruction And your inhabitants for derision, And you will bear the reproach of My people.”
Let’s all remove our MASKS and let’s do what is good; and do what the LORD requires of us: To do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly before God.
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young