Sacrifice the illusion

 Welcome to Daily Miracles, a running commentary on the 365 lessons of A Course in Miracles, an influential spiritual text from the 1970s. I am James Leroy Wilson and I invite you to join me as I go through this material for the first time. 

Lesson 155

I will step back and let Him lead the way.

(ACIM, W-155)

This is the summation of "traditional" religion:

²Many have chosen to renounce the world while still believing its reality. ³And they have suffered from a sense of loss, and have not been released accordingly. ⁴Others have chosen nothing but the world, and they have suffered from a sense of loss still deeper, which they did not understand. (ACIM, W-155.4:2-4)

I'm reminded of what Jesus said in the Gospel of Luke: “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" 

I believe Jesus only meant that those who have wealth will think they have to give up something to be pure, righteous, or heaven-worthy. Likewise, others who do seem to "renounce the world" (typically, possessions and pleasures) aren't pure or righteous either. They've created hell for themselves full of envy and blame. In fact, they often invoke these words from Jesus to condemn others and utterly miss the point.

Both types of people are slaves to illusion. The illusion is that you aren't one with the eternal unless you sacrifice. And even then, you might not get into heaven.  When you know you're already one with the eternal, you realize "There is no cost, but only gain." (ACIM, W-155.8:4)

James Leroy Wilson writes Daily Miracles, The Daily Bible Chapter, JL Cells, and The MVP Chase. Thanks for your subscriptions and support!

(Photo credit: Ivoronwik)