Sometimes people who are known to be optimists can be criticized for being unrealistic at times or even naïve. At the same time, in respect to the degree that people are viewed as optimistic, they are often labeled as seeing the glass half empty or half full.
Now I say, as Christians, we should always see the glass as completely full. Though I say that, believers in sharing the Gospel, will often use a certain illustration. In this illustration, a glass is described as completely empty. Reason being, with people being conceived in iniquity (Psalm 51:5) and due to their total depravity, that resulted from Adam and Eve’s disobedience, they are unworthy to enter God’s presence and are thereby devoid of any righteousness. However, the Good News for God’s people, is that Christ whom we have as our inheritance, completely emptied Himself of all He could claim to from eternity, so we could have a ‘glass full’ of the righteousness that we have in Him.
Scriptures indeed give us reason to have optimism, not because of anything in us, but rather by pointing us to God who from Him and through Him and to Him are all things (Romans 11:36). Once again, looking to God for our confidence and the reason for our optimism, Paul assures us that He who began the good work in us will bring it to completion for the day of Christ’s return (Philippians 1:6). Also assuring, knowing that God is always at work, we can attest that He is continuously molding and shaping us, even in our moments of darkest despair. The author of Hebrews reminds us that Jesus, being our living savior who has all authority in Heaven and on Earth (Matthew 28:18) is constantly interceding for us on our behalf who is both the author and perfecter of our faith.
Thinking again of Paul’s epistle to the Romans, a book that has been instrumental in bringing about revival in the church over time, Paul provides reasons for why believers should walk in hope and in an optimism that is not found in ourselves. In Romans 1:17, he gives good reason by telling us, “The Righteous shall live by faith.” Paul wants us to see that those who have witnessed and received the righteousness of Christ will have lives that are marked by an ongoing faith. Not only by faith will they trust Christ for the forgiveness of their sins, but also that He will see them through their journey and into glory. Then, later in Romans 8, Paul provides assurance that no one can stand against us as God is always for us. Paul being so resolute in his pursuit for the Gospel can attest to us in his own words that conclude this chapter: “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord”
What these themes tell us is that perpetual optimism is totally realistic and necessary for those walking in faith with the Lord Jesus Christ.
In His Image 