2 Corinthians 3:18 English Standard Version (ESV) And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

We hide behind masks because we know what we are and in that knowledge do not want to share our innermost shame. The issue at this moment is not about our good conscience, it is about vision. The mask will hide how we feel from others but it also blocks our vision. Think about it in these terms, it’s a lie.

We all have a past and Christ forgave us our sins and continues to do so for what we continue to do that troubles us. Paul’s confession in Romans 8:15 makes it clear that the good conscience is troubled by our very own behaviors. We are not perfect in everything we do. The cleansing of our conscience comes through honest confession of condition which means taking off our masks.

Some complain about their ability to see Christ in others but is it because of their mask or our own? It is our first responsibility to pluck the splitter from our own eye before trying to help another. (Matt. 7:3-5) The expression unveiled is in reference to the flesh, that the veil is flesh. Hebrews 10:20 defines the veil of the temple that prevented us from entering in was the flesh of Christ. That, being removed, torn from top to bottom, is no longer an obstacle. Our flesh on the other hand, still remains.

The only thing hindering our transformation into His image is our flesh. This is why Paul encourages us over and over again to abstain from fleshly lusts of all types. It is a hindrance in allowing His glory, which resides in us, from shining forth. By wearing a mask we make it all about us rather than Christ.

Psalm 71:15 English Standard Version (ESV) My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge.

What has God done in our lives that we know for a fact was God’s doing and not some choice we made or the favor of another? Acts of God are supernatural and do not exist without His right hand touching our lives. For the most part we are reluctant to speak of them among strangers out of fear that they will scoff at us and call us liars.

We might feel safe in the presence of other believers to share those acts. Here in 71:15 it says all the day long. They implies that the lost should hear them also. How believable is our tale to those who do not know God?  We should not fear what others think if God is at work in the moment. That is the point to the last words above, we might not know where He is working in the hearts of another.

We worry too much about what others think. As long as we are honest and do not try to hype those acts as being more than what God did, we need not worry. When we tell fantasies our natural instinct is to embellish a tale, we want it to be believe as powerful and fantastic. God only wants the truth told in all sincerity with embellishments.

During my first encounter with God’s power I did not know what was happening. It is important to include that detail because they too may not know that it is the hand of God. It was something that was troubling me on a human level. People can relate to turmoil of the mind, it is relatable. As desperate as I was, I felt powerless to change my situation. That too is a common emotion.

Suddenly I was changed. What happened that preceded the change? I said in my heart of hearts, “I don’t want to be like this!” I confessed my condition to myself.

Psalm 18:6 English Standard Version (ESV) In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.