Uncovering the Secrets Behind the Mask

In every super hero movie, the superhero always has an enemy he has to fight.  The entire movie is spent building up to the point when finally, the two collide.  The final battle is often filled with intense fight scenes between the superhero and the villain.  Punches are thrown, weapons are drawn, and lives are threatened.  It is often one of the most exciting scenes of a superhero movie.

Spiderman 3 follows this same script.  What is different about this movie than many others I have watched is who it portrays the villain being.  Spiderman is the superhero of course, and Venom and the Sandman are the enemies.  

Venom is the character that draws the most attention to me.  Two different characters in Spiderman 3 wear this suit: Peter Parker (aka Spiderman) and one of Peter's colleagues at the Newspaper, Eddie.  In the final fight scene of the movie, Spiderman (Peter Parker) tries to convince Venom (Eddie) to take off the suit.  Venom is not an individual person, but a suit that gives whoever is wearing it power to defeat their enemies.  However, in defeating their enemies, they are also defeating themselves, by surrendering their control to the suit. (Spiderman vs Venom clip)

As I read scripture and look at my own life, this analogy very closely resembles the fight we have against our greatest enemy, ourselves.  In James 1:14 it says, "...each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own evil desire."  In Spiderman 3, Peter Parker was lured in by his frustrations and troubles in life (specifically, his uncle's death).  When he first puts Venom's suit on, he says it feels good.  Solomon talks about this feeling in Proverbs 9 in regards to sin, saying, "Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious."  There is something appealing about sin.  If there wasn't, we wouldn't do it.

Peter Parker allowed himself to be conformed into Venom.  In the same way, the sin we commit conforms us.  It conforms us into looking more and more like the world.  When we have this "suit" on, we see ourselves as stronger than we ever were.  We think we have it all.  

The truth is that we have given up everything.  We see this happen to "Spiderman" (Peter Parker) and Eddie when they put on the suit.  The anger Peter has towards his enemies becomes greater than the love he has towards his friends and family.  As a result, he focused on hating his enemies, and begin losing the ones he loved.  They were taken right from under his feet.  In "Spiderman's" words, "he began to lose himself."

In the same way, when we put on the "Venom suit", for a while it seems good.  We may even take out an "enemy" or two.  As time passes though, we look around and realize our family and friends are no longer around us.  Living behind a mask drives us away from those who love us.  We focus so much of our attention trying to keep ourselves from being known that we miss out on the love we receive from those who are around us.  Most importantly, our Heavenly Father.  We too, lose our true selves.

It is so easy to hide in our sin.  Yet Jesus says in Luke 8, "...there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open."  God has a way of making sure all masks and suits are uncovered.

David faced this exposure, as Nathan revealed through a story his affair with Bathsheba.   His mask was removed, revealing all of his secrets.  There was nothing left uncovered.  By God's grace, the Venom in David's life was defeated.  David's response to being found out is in Psalm 51.  The result of being found out was peace and restoration.  

In high school, I removed the first layers my mask.  It was one of the most difficult times in my life.  It required me to reveal the most vial and repulsive things about me.  I became known by others in the deepest and darkest areas of my life.  The battle was fierce.  "Punches" were thrown, "weapons" were drawn, and "lives" were threatened.  Choices had to be made.  I couldn't live in my guilt anymore.  It was taking me down one day at a time.  I began learning that God does indeed still love me like his word said he would.  

This was the hardest thing I ever had to do.  The temptation to put the mask back on will always be there.  Our enemy the devil is looking for any opportunity he can to take advantage of our weaknesses and fears.  He knows them, and he uses them, better than we do.  There is no sin too big for God to forgive.  1 John 1:9 says, "if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us of ALL unrighteousness."  

In the end, it had to come down to surrender.  I have to voluntarily remove the mask of sin from my face.  I have to remove the "Venom" suit, revealing all of my brokenness.  Nothing is left uncovered.  The result, like David, is a humble and gracious heart.  Everything was on the table, yet somehow, by God's grace, I was still loved.  

Today is your choice.  If you haven't already, begin removing the masks you have put up.  Take down the secrecy you are hiding behind.  Don't be chained down by the guilt of your hidden sin.  Don't be overwhelmed by your unrepentant heart anymore.  Satan wants nothing more than for us to believe that we are alone in this.  He wants nothing more than to see us hide ourselves behind the mask, pretending everything is fine.  In reality, we are strapped down, and held captive by ourselves and our sin.  Instead, allow yourself to be freed from the chains of your mask.  Daily, the Bible says we are to poverty up our cross and follow Jesus. Daily we have to uncover or faces from the masks we put up.  Allow yourself to be fully known by God and those closest to you, so you can experience the full magnitude of God's love for you.