Should I be Optimistic or Pessimistic Right Now?

Tragedy in Minneapolis. Riots and destruction. Hatred and deep polarization. Serious ramifications from a global pandemic. It’s a messed up world. Is there hope? Can this ever be healed? Or should we throw up our hands and give up?

At the same time, the Bible puts forth the most pessimistic and the most optimistic view of humanity.

On the one hand, in the Bible, God describes people as sick, depraved, selfish, uncaring, and totally morally corrupt. Every person on earth. On the other hand, God talks about people as the precious, most valued part of all he made. He loves human beings so much that he would give up his own Son and suffer hell in their place. He did that for every person on earth.

So on the one hand, we shouldn’t be surprised by the evil, racism, and injustice of our world. It is grievous and definitely not okay. But it’s what you’d expect from a sin-infested world. On the other hand, we don’t need to throw up our hands and give up. There’s tremendous hope. God came to our depraved world to lift us up beyond it. The message of Jesus changes people’s hearts and lives forever. He will come back to put an end to all this, and he will take his people home to heaven where everything is right.

For now, we’re not surprised. But we weather through with hope. Heaven is waiting. Until then, the good news of God will change people for the better. That’s what our world needs.

“There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one” (Romans 3:10-12).

“God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

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