Jesus’ primary message was NOT, “Try harder; the kingdom of God is here.”

The language of transformation often works against us. We sometimes speak of “spiritual growth.” The idea of “growth” implies that spirituality is a process of stages in which we make improvements or progress toward becoming something more or different than what we are right now. Consider the possibility that you were born out of the image, likeness and being of God. The image, likeness and being of God is the underlying, unchanging, and fundamental essence of who you are. The truth is that there is nothing wrong with you the way you are. You cannot be improved upon, and there is never any diminishment of who you are. There is nothing more secure than your true Self and it is never threatened.

Do you suppose that if you choose eggs over oatmeal for breakfast this morning that it will cause the sun to shop shining? Ridiculous, right? The two things are entirely unrelated. It’s the same with your true Self – it is undisturbed and unaffected by anything outside of it, including whatever you do or don’t do.

Jesus’ primary message was NOT, “Try harder; the kingdom of God is here.” Nor was it, “You have a lot of growing to do before you can ever expect to experience God’s kingdom.” Instead, Jesus said, “Repent, for the kingdom of God is here.” The word “repent” (metanoia) means to change your mind or to see things in a way you have never seen them before.

Transformation is not a growth process of improvement and advancement that happens in stages. Transformation is stopping right now and seeing things as they really are… seeing yourself as you really are.