​Our culture is really into boasting and bragging about our accomplishments.  Whether it be fancy résumés, lofty sounding credentials, status symbol luxury cars, or casual name dropping, we really like showing off our success and importance.
 
But this is no new thing.  

​Disguises are meant to hide and conceal one’s true identity.  Over the centuries, spies have used them to get behind enemy lines and gather important intelligence and information that can help their side win a war.  During the Holocaust, many Jews assumed disguises to pass undetected on their way to freedom and safety.  While disguises can and have been used for good, the whole purpose of a disguise is to hide, conceal, and become someone you are not.     

​Throughout the New Testament, the church is referred to as the bride of Christ.  A redeemed and ransomed bride who is waiting for her glorious Bridegroom to return.  However, in that waiting, she must be careful not to get distracted or led stray from her faithful devotion by the lofting promises of the world and lies of the enemy.  She must remain sincere, pure, and fully devoted to her heavenly Bridegroom.