As you come to Him, the living Stone – rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him – you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:4-5.

To Him who loves us and freed us from our sins by His blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Revelation 1:5-6 NRSV.

Last night in our Midweek Encounter on Zoom we talked about our True Self versus our False Self. And I realized that letting go of our false ideas about Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, helps us let go of our false ideas about ourselves, so that we can live fully into the love God has for us. And the truth of God lights our way forward with Him. And our chapter, 2 Peter 1, is the final letter from the Apostle Peter who knew his time was growing short. In the notes it said it was written probably between AD 64 and 70 but looking up when Peter was killed, it said it was between AD 64 and 68. Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you. I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder, knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind. For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased” – and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

We have the eyewitness account of Peter, one of the three disciples who were with Jesus the Son when He was transfigured before them on the mountain. To have eyewitness accounts spoken and written so soon after Jesus’ death when they could have been refuted by people still living who witnessed the feeding of thousands, the healings of ordinary people, the teachings of Jesus that people knew with certainty were spoken with authority not of men, is remarkable. So we have the prophetic word made more sure…to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place…until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. The dark place is our world choosing lies and hate and confusion and everything opposite of God’s love. But when we choose God our lives change. What grows within us is the love of Creator God indwelling and enriching our very being with His truth. And everything this world has suffered begins to make sense. Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord…seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. If anyone preaches to you anything not of God’s love – turn away and turn to God. The true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ – faith, moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love. Our true self in Him who brings to our hearts and minds healing only He can bring. Everything suffered in this world is because of the suffering sin brings because all sin is not God’s love. Remember our last letter of Paul? Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. That love covering a multitude of sins is the love of Creator God. His love brings healing and joy and hope and peace. Is that your idea of God? Let Him show you Him. Let Him teach you and bring healing so needed in this dark world turned away from Him. We will still live in this darkened world but the light of His love shines clearly giving us hope and joy unspeakable and we can rejoice with Him. Not for our own self only – but for all of us yet to understand and rejoice. Real hope!