Unmasked!

I do not want to bring up a bad memory, but sometimes there are eternal truths to be understood by doing so. Remember COVID19! Hardly a family around the world was not impacted by this deadly virus. Whether you were a mask believer or doubter, for a long period of time, we all were mandated to wear a mask when we traveled in an airplane. Though the effectiveness of the mask mandate is still being debated, none of us would want to go into surgery with the surgeon and nurses unmasked, would we?! No, there are definitely protection purposes to wearing a face mask or veil. However, there are definitely some restrictive elements to wearing a veil or mask, aren’t there? Facial recognition is almost impossible. Those that need to wear glasses often cannot see clearly as breathing steams up the lenses. The sense of smell is hijacked with...well you all have experienced it.

When the airline mask mandate was lifted, the freedom to breath fresh air was exhilarating for me!

The Apostle Paul speaks of a spiritual face mask that veils all of humanity from spiritual understanding and freedom—a mask mandate that only the Lord can remove:

“But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed...and if our gospel is veiled, it veiled to those who are perishing” 2 Corinthians 3:16...4:3 (ESV)

Sometimes people of faith struggle to understand why others cannot see the value and truth of the gospel. It is good for us who believe to remember that it is the supernatural work of the Lord that removes the veil so that we can see, smell and taste that the Lord is good. We all were under that spiritual mask mandate! At the cross of Calvary, Jesus lifted the mask mandate that veiled all humanity from the freedom to enjoy a right relationship with their Creator and Savior. Our Lord will gladly remove the mask for everyone who turns to Him. When the mask is removed and we by faith are set free from the bondage and condemnation of our sinfulness, we have the wonderful opportunity to see Him for who He really is and become more and more like Him.

Have you noticed that happily married couples who have been married over 50 years tend to look like each other?! Why? It simply is because they have spent all those years looking at each other with respect and love. The Apostle Paul said it this way when unmasked before our Lord,

“So our faces are not covered. They show the bright glory of the Lord, as the Lord's Spirit makes us more and more like our glorious Lord” 2 Corinthians 3:18 (CEV)

In order to enjoy the freedom that is in Christ we must be unmasked by Christ! May we all turn to Him and let Him remove the veil!

Dr. David Ley is the President of Alaska Bible College and Pastor of Family Care, ChangePoint Mat-Su.