TO SHOW YOUR TRUE COLORS DATES BACK TO THE 1700s. Ships were required to fly flags at sea. These flags would identify where the ship was from and the type of cargo. PIRATES OFTEN HID THEIR REAL IDENTY BY FLYING FALSE FLAGS. By doing doing this the PIRATES WOULD DECEIVE OTHER SHIPS TO NOT RAISE SUSPICION.

THE IDIOM: SHOW YOUR TRUE COLORS: to show what you really are, to reveal not what you say --- but your real nature.

IS THERE A REAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR OUTSIDE AND INSIDE? THE TEST IS A WAY OF PROVING WHAT YOU REALLY ARE INSIDE?

James 1:3 (NLT2) For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

James 1:3 (MSG) You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.