Dear Church Family,
I’m not sure where I found this quote, though I think it has been written since the pandemic stated. It should make you chuckle, at least, and maybe even give you a little perspective on life. Here it is:
“The best thing about being a pessimist is that I've never tested positive for anything.”
If you did not laugh a little, then perhaps you fall in the pessimist category. Just to make sure I checked a dictionary that calls pessimism “the doctrine that the existing world is the worst possible (and/or) the belief that the evil in life outweighs the good.” Yes, wordsmiths view pessimism as a doctrine! A second definition says it expects “misfortune or the worst outcome in any circumstances.”
While doctrine might be too strong a word to use to define pessimism, I think we can agree that many people, even Christians, hold to it. From a Biblical perspective we freely admit the curse of evil affects everything in the world. Genesis 3 clearly tells us God has put enmity between Satan and humanity, childbirth will be painful, work became difficult and death entered the world. Anyone can make a list quickly of five things that mar life. I was tempted to make such a list, but have resisted.
I resisted because I strive to live with an optimism based on the redemptive work of Jesus. Even in our fallen world, God’s glory can be seen now and will be seen for all eternity. The evil one works to blind us to the truths of the Gospel. We fall for his lie that we can be like God.
In contrast, God’s people can test positive for many things. A spiritual test reveals a new heart, a new mind and a new will for by faith in Christ we become new creatures – the old is gone and the new has come. We have faith, hope and love rooted in Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us the best is yet to come. Even now we enjoy eternal life and life to the fullest. We have sung a hymn with the lyrics, “To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus; For my life is wholly bound to His.”
I encourage you during these pessimistic times to be radically optimistic because your hope rests in your Lord and Savior. Will you test positive?
Living by grace to His glory,
Pastor Gillikin