Seen, Known, and Loved

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

— 1 Peter 2:9

The Bible tells us heaven is a place where there is no darkness (Revelation 22:5). One day, we will stand before God completely known. And for every person who trusts in Jesus Christ for salvation, that’s good news, not something to fear.

Adam and Eve hid from God in the garden of Eden. Their sin brought a longing for darkness. They were afraid to be seen and known (Genesis 3:8-10). Even on this side of the cross, we still try to hide sometimes, don’t we? We find darkness preferable to light to guard our secrets and avoid vulnerability. We believe if we’re really seen and known by God and others, we’ll risk being cast out as imposters.

Apart from Christ, that’s true. But in Christ, it’s a false narrative 1 Peter 2:9 was written to correct. As unworthy an outsider as you may think you are, you’re not. No matter how much you think you deserve to be abandoned by God because of wrong choices, you won’t ever be. You’ve been chosen by God Himself. You are royalty; you belong to Him as His eternal possession. You are His child.

The truth is, you can’t hide from God now any more than you can hide from Him on the day your life on earth ends. And He wants you to stop trying. He sees and knows everything about you and still loves you and invites you to experience the fullness of that love by stepping out of the darkness into His marvelous light.

• Listen to Matthew West’s “Chosen.” What lyrics stand out to you as particularly encouraging? Which stand out to you as challenging?
• Why is vulnerability before God and His people a necessary component of faith?
• Thank God for seeing you, knowing you, and loving you just as you are. Ask Him to help you remember that truth. He made that truth clear when He died on the cross for your sins. Today, be encouraged to confess the sins you’ve been covering and step into the light knowing you are chosen and forgiven.