Living in the End: Abraham and The Power of Imagination in Neville Goddard’s Teachings

In Neville Goddard’s teachings, one of the most powerful principles is living in the end. This means to assume the state of the wish fulfilled—to fully embody the person who already possesses what they desire. A profound example of this principle is found in the story of Abraham, whose name change from Abram to Abraham serves as a symbolic moment of identity transformation and manifestation.

The Power of Identity Transformation: Abraham’s Name Change

In Genesis 17:5, God changes Abram’s name to Abraham, saying: “No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.”

The name Abram means “exalted father,” while Abraham means “father of many nations.” This change isn’t just a symbolic act; it is a shift in identity that aligns with God’s promise. It is a declaration that Abraham is no longer simply an individual with limited potential but is now the father of nations. Abraham’s name change represents the embodiment of the end result—he is called to live as though the promise of fathering many nations has already been fulfilled.

Neville Goddard often emphasizes that in order to manifest anything, we must first assume the feeling of the wish fulfilled. Abraham’s transformation from Abram to Abraham is a perfect example of this principle. To manifest the promise of many descendants, Abraham had to assume the identity of the father of many nations long before it physically manifested in his life. By embracing this new identity, he was aligning his imagination with the end result—just as we must do when manifesting our own desires.

Living in the End: A Shift in Consciousness

This principle of living in the end means fully embodying the end result of your desire, just as Abraham did when he adopted his new name. It’s not just about wishing for something to happen but about becoming the person who has already received that desire. Abraham had to shift his consciousness from being someone who was merely an “exalted father” to someone who is already the father of many nations.

This is the essence of manifestation: it is not about striving to attain something; it’s about aligning your consciousness with the version of you that already has what you desire. In Neville's terms, it’s about assuming the state of the wish fulfilled in the imagination and allowing that assumption to permeate your entire being.

God’s Promise: Calling Those Things That Are Not

In Romans 4:17, the apostle Paul speaks to the same concept when he writes: “As it is written, 'I have made you a father of many nations'—in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did.”

Just as God calls Abraham the father of many nations before it is visible in the natural world, so too can we call forth the desires of our hearts before they physically manifest. When Abraham was given the name Abraham, it was a declaration of the end result. In the same way, we must call those things which do not exist as though they did, living in the end as though our desires have already been fulfilled.

The Importance of Living in the End: Becoming the Manifested Self

Abraham’s name change marks a pivotal moment in his journey of manifestation, one that we can all learn from. By fully embracing a new identity, Abraham stepped into the reality of the promise. He began to live as though he already had what was promised to him. He wasn’t waiting for a child to be born to take on the name of the father of many nations—he was living as though he already had many nations through his descendants.

This teaches us a vital lesson about identity and manifestation. Living in the end means fully embodying the person you desire to be—even before the physical evidence of that desire shows up. Just as Abraham had to assume the identity of the father of many nations to bring forth the promise, we must assume the identity of the person who already has what we desire.

Conclusion: Abraham’s Story as a Manifestation Blueprint

Abraham’s journey from Abram to Abraham encapsulates the power of living in the end. His name change was not just a new title but a shift in his self-identity that aligned him with the end result—the fulfillment of God's promise. This transformation mirrors the process of manifestation that Neville Goddard teaches: we must embody the state of our wish fulfilled, live as though the desire is already ours, and align our thoughts and actions with that reality.

Just as Abraham stepped into his new identity, we too must step into our desired reality. By fully embracing who we wish to become, we open the door for that new identity to become our living experience. In the end, living in the end is not just a mental exercise—it is a complete transformation of consciousness, one that leads to the manifestation of our desires in the physical world.