19 So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. ²⁰ First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, ²¹ because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

When I look at the society that we have had a part in creating, I am continually reminded at how desperately we long to be loved. Pop-up ads on the computer, television commercials, radio and TV shows all tell us and show us that if we follow this method, take this evaluation, or put up this profile that we will be able to connect with that one person, or that group of people, who will fill that … void. When I look at online ‘communities’ like MySpace and facebook (and if you don’t know what I’m talking about, ask around, they’re huge influences on (at least) two generations worth of people), what I see are individuals who are putting themselves out into the cyber realm in such a way that others will look at their profiles, and connect with them, appreciate them, love them.

The thing is, as I have looked at those sorts of profiles over Mandy’s shoulder (because that’s what we parents do), what you see are people who are putting out an image. I’m not saying that they are lying about themselves, who they are and what they do. I’m not saying that.

However, they are accentuating a particular portion of themselves that they feel would be sought after by others. This also means that they are trying (could be intentionally or unintentionally) to minimize other parts of who they are. It could be because they are insecure, unsure, or afraid. Whatever the reason may be, there is a feeling that if these self-perceived ‘negative’ parts of their lives were out in the open for all to behold, then those people who they are looking for the love from would begin to question whether being connected to this person was all that wise an idea.

But it’s not as if this incarnation of putting out an image is all that new, because its not. Every generation has had its ways to put itself out there to the world. It’s just that recently, with the advent of the internet, the world has become a whole lot more accessible. Back when I was a kid (yeah, I know that I’m not all that far removed from kid-dom), I would dress a certain way, listen to certain music, say certain things in order to highlight a particular part of who I was. In my own way, I was highlighting parts of my personality in order to feel accepted, and yes, loved. I was projecting an image. And I know that I wasn’t the only one, because when you walk down the hallway between the administrative offices and the gymnasium in the High School, what you see are kids who look an awful lot alike. The look morphs over the years, but the similarities, the longing to be loved, and what we think we have to do in order to receive that love, still exists.

And its not as if that desire fades away as we move into adulthood. It changes in terms of how it manifests itself, but its still there. We feel like we have to project, and inversely minimize, parts of who we are in order to be appreciated. To say it another way, we have to do something in order to be loved.

This leads us up to that line that we hear in II Peter, "This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased." As we talked about prior to the reading, if the event of the transfiguration was the only time that the voice of the Heavenly Father was heard making this proclamation, then we might think that God is offering some sort of performance review. (Imagine God on one side of a large table opening up a folder that has a tab with the name of Jesus written upon it) "Alright, so this is my Son, Jesus, and he’s been working hard for me for the past two plus years and he has done everything that I could have asked of him. He is worthy of my love. I am well pleased." (God closes the folder, and picks up another one.)

But it isn’t. The fact that this same statement, "This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased" shows up prior to Jesus’ ministry beginning should point out to us that the love of God is not earned: it is given and given freely. It has nothing to do with performance: it has to do with God’s grace.

Now I admit that there may be some of you who are thinking to yourselves: "yeah, but these comments about the Almighty’s beloved are in reference to Jesus. He is God! He is perfect! How could I ever compare myself to Jesus and think that I, in any way, measure up?"

To this line of thought, I invite you to remember how Jesus’ earthly life ends. We are only a few days away from the beginning Lent that starts on Ash Wednesday. This season of Lent is to help us prepare for sacrifice that Jesus was willing to make on that first Good Friday. That sacrificial death ultimately leads to the resurrection morning of Easter, when Jesus breaks the chains of sin, death, and separation from God and lives again and forevermore. That sacrifice was made for us. That resurrection took place so that we might believe that God loves us so much that He is willing to send His own son to die for our sake. God’s love for us is that great. We didn’t do anything to be deemed worthy of that love.

And yet, if we are willing to receive that love by recognizing that we are fallen creatures, that we have sinned, we will be accepted into the embrace of the Almighty. God’s love for us is so great, we have become heirs to the promise of eternal life: in Christ, we have become sons and daughters of the divine. In Christ, we have become God’s beloved. You don’t have to project an image to God thinking that it will somehow make you more worthy of God’s love. God already knows who you are. You’re not fooling anyone but yourself if you try and put on wears.

But if we are willing to admit who we are in totality, people who have fallen, people who are longing so desperately to be loved, to be accepted, we will ultimately find what we have been looking for all along and realize that God first loved us.

You are a child of God! You are loved by God! I know that there are some of us here today who are thinking, "God can’t love me". God already does. Be willing to see that as broken as you are, God loves you, God chooses you, and that in our honest confession (which allows us to be washed clean in the humble sacrifice of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ), God accepts you.

At this point I need your help and your trust. Don’t worry it won’t be painful. In fact, it might be the most freeing moment of your life.

I need to you picture the sin that you carry. For some of us, it may be habits and traits that are out in the open, things that we know are contrary to the way of God, but we continue to struggle with them in full view.

For others, the sin may be something that causes us such a sense of shame that we barely acknowledge it to ourselves because we are afraid that in doing so the world may be able to see how we view ourselves: as a fraud. In either case, these sins leave us feeling unworthy of any love, much less the love of the Divine.

Now, in the silence of your own head, name that sin. Bring it out into the light and name it. Confess that sin … and know that God hears your confession.

Now that we have taken that step, we have claimed the love that was there all along. I want you to hear what that sounds like. Here’s what we’re going to do. Repeat after me: "I am (insert your first name here). I am God’s beloved."

So many of us are searching to fill a void in our life: a space that is filled by love, and acceptance. So many of us feel like we have to put on some sort of façade in order to receive it. We don’t. For in Christ, we are able to receive the passionate love and acceptance of the Creator of all. God has chosen us. God loves us. In Christ, we have become the beloved of God. Trust in that promise, and allow the love of God to lift you up in all of your days.

No need to fake it: claim the mantel of the beloved of God.

Holy God, there are so many of us who feel so unworthy: unworthy of being accepted or chosen; unworthy of love. We feel so unworthy that we try and hide who we really are. God, work in and through us so that we are able to understand that in Christ’s sacrifice, we have become heirs of the promise, and recipients of the title of beloved. God, help us to always know that You have chosen us, and that we are dearly loved by You. It is in Jesus’ name that we pray. Amen.