Deceit in self-representation runs rampant in the modern world. Self-representation seems to be a longstanding quality of human nature, but the modern inception of image filters, digital avatars, shapeshifting clothing, extreme cosmetics, and plastic surgery all combine to make it easier and more extensive than ever before.
In his own time, Paul recognized fakery towards others to be a problem. He wrote: “Let love be without dissimulation....” (Romans 12:9) Dissimulation means concealment of one’s thoughts, feelings, or character. Such pretense is everywhere today.
All too many people wear a mask, exerting extreme effort to hide who they really are. How they present themselves to others and even to themselves does not match who they know they really are. They wear different masks for different occasions, all with the intent of obtaining greater favor than they would with their true identity.
People pretend to be different than they are to enjoy benefits beyond what they deserve. Will it make you feel any better about yourself to get credit for being someone you aren’t? An unfortunate consequence of fakery is that one’s entitlement becomes based on the illusion they project, rather than their actual worth. Inflated entitlement causes you to reject options that are actually the best available to you and prevents you from enjoying gratitude in the things you actually deserve.
Too many think that they can somehow find a shortcut to what they say they desire through anything but the truth, but these benefits don’t last. Realize that whatever you have through deception is as much of an illusion as the deception that enabled you to obtain it. Whatever limited benefit comes through pretending to be better than you are will be overcome by reality sooner or later, and will always carry a greater permanent price than anything it paid in the short term. The truth always manages to be revealed. Any arrangement in your life based on anything but who you really are will only endure as long as you manage to avoid the portions of reality that would overwhelm the illusion. Benefits that come to you through fakery can only be maintained as long as the deception endures.
The benefits of a forged facade aren’t worth as much as they are thought to be, even while they endure. Whatever benefit you receive from wearing a mask will be as shallow as your pretended personality.