“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.”

Philippians 4:8

I was asked a few days ago to identify myself in one of three categories: optimist, pessimist, or realist. There was no hesitation at all before I blurted out my response: I am definitely a realist. Or at least that is how I view myself. Those who know me well may have a different opinion, but this is certainly how I see me. Let me try to explain.

I don’t see a silver lining to all of life’s eventualities, nor do I see doom and gloom on every turn. As I observe human behavior, and as I watch news reports of current events, I could easily find myself in a state of discouragement due to the seeming darkness of the human heart. However, the discouragement can be instantaneously transformed into ecstasy as I hear a baby laugh, or a bird sing, or as I simply take a moment to breath in the freshness of a new day dawning. This, in its simplistic form, is the reason I view myself as a realist. I see things as they are.

Now, having said that, let me hasten to say there are days in which I find myself being the supreme pessimist. There are things that happen that cause me to think we are witnessing the total depravity of humanity. News reports of violence in the workplace, in the marketplace, and in the home force me to wonder just how more depraved the human race can become. Stories of human trafficking, child molestation, rape, murder, torture, the proliferation of drug abuse, and so many others could cause even the most optimistic among us to become a cynical pessimist.

But then, there are other days in which I find myself the consummate optimist. The beauty of a sunrise or sunset, painting a portrait with colors no man could ever produce with paints and canvas. The gentle sounds of a cascading mountain stream, or the mighty crash of a thunderous waterfall. The sun reflecting majestically off snow-covered mountain peaks, or the reflection of a brilliant full moon as it glistens across the still waters of a tranquil lake. The brilliance of red and gold leaves dotting a mountainside in the crisp air of fall, or the many hues of green bursting forth as spring brings new life to what has the appearance of death. The sound of my wife’s slow, rhythmic breathing as she sleeps peacefully beside me in the quietness of the early morning.

Yes, I can be quite the pessimist, and a few minutes later be a romantic optimist. But, still, when asked my opinion of myself, I would have to say that I am indeed a classic realist. I base this, mainly, on the fact that I am a believer in the Bible. I believe it records for us the panorama of God’s purposes and plans for His creation. In the Bible, God reveals to those who would read with eyes of faith and ears of understanding His grand plan from eternity past.

The story is so very familiar. God created everything that now exists. Through His creative imagination He placed the planets in place, and now keeps them in place by His power. He chose to create life on at least one of those planets, the one upon which we live. He formed and framed the majestic mountains, and the hot, arid deserts. He formed the oceans, and set the boundaries within which they must remain. The variety of vegetation and wildlife we see in different climates and geographical settings was by divine design. He created a perfect paradise into which He placed man and woman, and gave them dominion over the earth.

It was all such a glorious, wonderful, perfect plan. Optimism at its very best!

But then, something tragic occurred. Man was given the opportunity to make a choice. It seems to have been an extremely simple choice from our present day perspective. Obey God, and enjoy the beauty, bounty and blessings of this perfect garden paradise forever, or disobey and forfeit it all. They chose to disobey, and therefore, paradise was lost, forever.

The glorious, wonderful, perfect plan was subverted by human failure. The result: pessimism at its very worst!

But, the story doesn’t end there. Even though the plan of God had been subverted by sinful man, God was still on the throne and in control. As a matter of fact, man’s disobedience did not catch God off-guard and unprepared. The Bible reveals to the careful reader that God already knew what man would do, and had already ordained a plan though which the disobedient choices of man could be forgiven, and the reality of living in, and enjoying, God’s presence and power could be experienced.

Pessimism at its worst overcome and defeated by optimism at its best!

And now, out of that wonderful story of God’s redeeming grace, we are to look at things realistically through the eyes of faith and the ears of understanding. We realistically look at the world, understanding that it suffers due to the curse of God because of the fall of man. However, we also look realistically at the promises of God that teach us His plan is still to redeem sinful man, and recreate the sin-cursed earth, and restore His original plan of living eternally in His perfect paradise created for the redeemed.

The only thing left to say is simply this: Are you one of the redeemed who is anxiously awaiting the return of the Lord Jesus Christ? It is only through His redeeming blood sacrifice that we are able to overcome the obvious, pessimistic darkness of this world, and enter into the transforming light of His love and grace. Then, and only then, can we be truly optimistic as we look realistically at the glory set before us in our Lord Jesus Christ.