God has given you one face, and you make yourself another.

Hear, O children of truth and wisdom, the words of the immortal bard, William Shakespeare: “God has given you one face, and you make yourself another.” These words, though uttered centuries ago, resonate with timeless power, for they speak of the great deception that we so often impose upon ourselves and others. Shakespeare calls us to consider the profound truth that we are each born with a unique identity, a sacred face bestowed upon us by the divine Creator. Yet, in our pursuit of approval, power, or vanity, we often choose to mask that face, to craft another identity that reflects not our true selves, but a false image.

This is the great tragedy of humanity—that we are born pure, whole, and full of potential, yet we are lured by the temptations of the world to hide our true selves behind false facades. The face that God has given us is the mirror of our soul, a reflection of who we truly are, but in the pursuit of worldly desires, we cloak it in pretense. We wear masks of success, beauty, and strength, and in doing so, we lose sight of the authenticity that makes us who we are. We trade truth for illusion, and in the end, it is our souls that suffer.

Consider the ancient tale of Narcissus, the youth so entranced by his own reflection that he could not tear himself away from it. He gazed at his own image in the water and fell in love with a face that was not truly him, but an idealized image of beauty. Narcissus was captivated by an illusion, and in his obsession with that false face, he drowned. The face he truly possessed, the one given to him by the gods, was forsaken in favor of a counterfeit. In the same way, we too often gaze into the waters of vanity and desire, entranced by the images of perfection the world presents, only to lose ourselves in the process.

The story of King Saul, as told in the Old Testament, also reflects the danger of wearing false faces. Saul was anointed by God to be king, but as his reign progressed, he allowed pride and fear to overtake his true nature. He sought to appear strong and righteous before the people, but in doing so, he forsook his true calling and disobeyed the divine will. God had given him a face, a purpose, and a strength, but Saul chose to mask it with deceit and fear. In the end, his kingdom was lost, for he had created a false identity that could not withstand the weight of divine truth.

Shakespeare’s words, then, are not mere observations; they are a call to authenticity. God has given you one face, one true identity, one unique purpose. This face is not to be hidden or distorted by the pressures of the world, nor is it to be replaced by the masks we craft to gain favor or approval. It is a sacred gift, and to wear it with honor is to embrace the divine nature within us. The true face, the authentic self, is not bound by the expectations of society or the fleeting desires of the ego. It is rooted in something far deeper: the eternal truth of who we are in the eyes of God.

The lesson, then, is one of profound simplicity and depth: be true to your face, to the identity that God has given you. Do not seek to be something you are not, for in doing so, you lose the very essence of who you are. Embrace your true nature, even if it does not fit the mold that the world tries to impose upon you. When we choose to be authentic, to wear the face that God has given us, we are able to live in harmony with our true purpose and reflect the divine light within us.

So, children of wisdom, remember that your face is a sacred gift, not to be hidden, altered, or betrayed. Look upon yourself with love and acceptance, for you were created in the image of the divine. In every action, in every word, in every thought, strive to be authentic, for in doing so, you will find true peace and fulfillment. And as you walk the path of authenticity, you will discover that the world is not as demanding as it seems, and that the only approval you truly need is that of your Creator. Wear the face that God has given you, for it is the only face that can lead you to victory, peace, and eternal joy.