High Impact Living

WEARING A MASK

Proverbs 2:7 says “God holds victory for the upright and he guards those who walk in integrity.” I don’t know of anything that has hurt the church of Jesus Christ more than people who say they are Christians and don’t actually live like Christians.

There is nothing worse than being a phony, than being a hypocrite. The word for hypocrisy in the Bible comes from Greek theater where they would put a mask on to play a part. The classic symbol of the two masks used for acting comes from this definition.

The two masks represent the traditional distinction between comedy and tragedy. They are symbols of the ancient Greek muses - Thalia and Melpomene. Thalia was the muse of comedy (the laughing face), while Melpomene was the muse of tragedy (the weeping face).

A hypocrite is someone who puts a mask on and acts like they are something they are not.

Life is good when you have authenticity, when you have character, when you have integrity. God gives you victory when you walk in integrity. It is good when God is leading you to victory. It is good when God is protecting you and guarding you. It is good when you have character.

Life is good when what you say and what you do match up. Words like honor, commitment, duty; these mean something when you are a person of character. It is stunning to witness people who are Christ-followers, even church leaders, who when dealing with challenges do not act at all Christlike.

The word character comes from the Greek word for an engraving instrument. The instrument goes over and over and over a piece of stone or a piece of glass cutting in the image time and time again.

That is exactly how character is established in a person. It is engraved in you and reveals whom you really are. It reflects the kind of person you are. Your character is defined by your actions. The decisions you make and the actions you take over time determine your true character.

Character is much more important than fame, than achievements, than wealth. People with fame and wealth can have a huge downfall because they don’t have character.

Life is good when you are real, when you are authentic, when you have character. When your life is marked by integrity it is the best way to live.

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