Excerpt from “Discover Your Inner Holy Light” by Robert Harris
A Momentous Discovery
Jesus was a carpenter and mason who, about two thousand years ago, during his early adulthood, made a discovery that dramatically changed his view of life. He believed it to be so consequential that, around age 30, he dropped everything and began sharing what he had found with anyone who would listen. He knew that his message would challenge conventional thinking and probably be considered radical by many. But nevertheless he moved ahead with confidence because he knew it had the power to transform lives. After all, it was starting to transform his own life.
As he went from town to town, Jesus was met with a good deal of skepticism and criticism, as any innovative thinker would be. But many of his listeners found his arguments worthy of consideration. However, it was mainly his demonstrations of the power of his discovery that people found compelling and persuasive. Open-minded folks saw something in Jesus’ way of living and interacting with others that was intriguing, inspiring, and out of the ordinary.
What, exactly, was this discovery that Jesus wholeheartedly believed would change the world for the better?
The beginning
When Jesus began teaching, his basic message was a wake-up call:
“The time has come to clear your hearts and minds of the clutter—immature ideas, destructive habits, pointless rituals. Hear the Good News and make a fresh start—experience a rebirth!” (Mark 1:15 AT)
Unfortunately this account ends abruptly, as do many accounts in the Gospels. But based on what we now know about the general themes in Jesus’ teachings, we easily can imagine the exchange that might have followed:
_“What do you mean, Jesus? What’s this ‘good news’ you’re talking about?”
“I’ll say it as plainly as possible: God is not just outside of us—he is also within us. It’s always been this way, but we just weren’t able to see it. Now I’m encouraging everyone to open their eyes and focus on this reality. A more powerful and meaningful faith is within our grasp. This is the Good News!”
_“Sounds like fantasy to me!”
“No, it’s true! I’m convinced that each person is endowed with a divine light, a portion of God’s infinite holy light. It’s within me, and it’s within you. And because of this blessing we are always connected with the Almighty.”
_“Interesting idea. But rebirth? How can I possibly be born again?”
“By discovering this great potential within yourself and knowing without doubt that it is real, just as I have done. This is what faith is all about. This is what enables you to start over and live with vigor and purpose.”
_“And what will this ‘divine light’ do for me? Make me wealthy?”
“You’re looking at it all wrong. It’s what you do with the light that matters. If you release its power over time, you will be able to achieve anything you imagine. Perhaps you’ll join me in building a new kind of world, a new way of living in which righteousness is the norm. To be successful, you need to grow up spiritually. You need to realize that you were created to be God’s partner, not his subject. If you can believe that truth, and draw on your inner power every day, nothing will be impossible!”
And so began a new chapter in the story of human spiritual development. This remarkable discovery—that God is incarnate in each individual as a dynamic potential waiting to be nurtured—started to take hold. And before long, many who heard and understood this Good News followed Jesus and discovered their own inner divine lights—and a new faith tradition was born.
The conventional view
The view of incarnation that most people had at the time was quite different from the one that Jesus proposed. If we look through the Old Testament, we find numerous picturesque accounts that express the view that was widely accepted at the time: incarnation is impersonal. In other words, God occasionally visits the world in some form and for some specific purpose but is not really part of the world (or part of individuals) during the event.
A new perspective
Jesus was well acquainted with the Scriptures, so he certainly knew about this view of incarnation. But it apparently didn’t align with his own experience. To him, God wasn’t sometimes available, concerned, and involved—God was always available, concerned, and involved. So Jesus must have reached the conclusion that made the most sense: incarnation is personal. In other words, God comes into the world in each individual. Thus divine nature and human nature are intertwined. What an empowering revelation!
Jesus clearly believed that God comes to earth naturally in each individual, connecting us at all times with his infinite reservoir of divine love, power, and generosity. We just need to fully grasp this fact and live as if it were true. Then everything will change, and we’ll find that perceived limitations begin to disappear. Then we can start turning dreams into reality. As Jesus put it:
“…[you can] become what you believe.” (Matthew 9:29 MSG)
An opportunity for all
Jesus gradually released the great potential within himself and lived in a way that inspired others. There was nothing supernatural going on—just a sincere man projecting his inner divine light with confidence to achieve extraordinary results. And he certainly believed that everyone could do the same day after day. Look at how he encouraged people to pray:
“[Father,] may your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)
How could this kingdom, this empowered way of living in harmony with our heavenly Father, be achieved if not by a multitude of individuals tapping into the great power source within? After all, we are God’s hands on earth.
Jesus knew from experience the potential of this constant divine presence. And he wanted everyone to develop the same invigorating awareness. So he enthusiastically shared his belief that we can project this inner light to help ourselves and others, overcome obstacles, and live righteously. At the heart of his message was a critical idea: incarnation isn’t an event that sometimes occurs, but a dynamic process in which we can participate throughout our lives.
To come to terms with his discovery, Jesus had to reconsider traditional opinions about God, human nature, salvation, blessing, and atonement. And if we, today, truly believe in God-within-us, then we must courageously adjust our thinking so it aligns with the Good News. Only then can we truly start living like children of God.
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In “Discover Your Inner Holy Light,” I invite you to embrace the ultimate blessing of God-within-us, as Jesus did, and begin to unlock your full potential. Open your mind to a more practical, mature, and vigorous faith that can produce uncommon confidence, resilience, and goodwill. Hear the Good News and start your transformative journey today!
The book is now available in digital, audio, and paperback editions at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FRYFG4HM
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Robert Harris is the author of more than 40 books in a variety of genres, including The Jesus Perspective, Move Ahead with Sudden Forgiveness, and 101 Things NOT to Do Before You Die. His website is artspace5.com.
