Beyond the world's many reasons for cherishing Christ Jesus is one that's perhaps less recognized. His life speaks enduringly to humankind because it quickens in us the intuition that real being is larger and fuller than anything ordinary appearances would suggest. In showing God's power to be greater than sickness and sin, greater than matter itself, he proved that life doesn't really rest on a material basis but on a spiritual one. Through his example we can glimpse the fact that our true life must lie within the unlimited realm of divine Spirit; that we can grow out of a mortal sense of existence with its sin and suffering into the demonstration of that richer, spiritual nature which is actually ours. Paul affirms this when he writes of "speaking the truth in love, [that we] may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ." Eph. 4:15.
How are we to gain this spiritual maturity? Embracing Godlike graces such as the meekness, purity, and hunger for righteousness spoken of in the Beatitudes brings us closer to the spiritual character that is inherently ours. Man's real identity is spiritual because his creator—God—is Spirit. And since Spirit is the sole source of good, an understanding of our true selfhood helps to harmonize the whole of our experience. It brings well-being, purposeful achievement, and sound relationships into our lives.
To the extent that we live the spirituality which is our real nature, our progress can be steady and increasingly free from pain. There will be heartening evidence of spiritual growth. But even if we face major challenges, and our lives are anything but serene and straightforward, this does not necessarily mean we're unprogressive.
