Choose to Have a Positive Outlook
Some Christians are a little uncomfortable with the word “positive” because it smacks of do-it-yourself religion in one way or another. However, if any have a right to a positive outlook they are the followers of the Lord Jesus. I know some of us are naturally disposed to cheerfulness, optimism and hope while others lean toward negativity, pessimism and gloom. Those of us in the latter category would usually prefer to be called “realists.” The fact is, in turning to the Bible it is those in the former category who are the “realists.” Let me explain.
On several occasions Jesus commanded people to “be of good cheer.” That is an expression which isn’t in common usage in my world, so I looked at some other translations and found the following alternate renderings: “take heart,” “have courage,” “be of good courage,” and my personal favourite, “cheer up!” Let’s look at gospel passages that contain this variously translated command to have a positive outlook.
In Matthew 9:2, we have the account of a group of friends bringing a paralytic man lying on a bed. “When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.’” So I ask, are your sins forgiven you? Yes? Then “take heart.”
In Matthew 9:22, we read of a woman exercising her faith in Jesus by daring to touch the edge of his cloak. When Jesus sensed this in His spirit, He turned around, identified her and said “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” So I ask, have you exercised faith in the Lord Jesus for your eternal well-being and your physical life between now and then? Yes? Well then, “have courage.”
In Matthew 14:27, we encounter the stunning account of Jesus walking across the Sea of Galilee in the middle of the night to join His disciples who are engaged in the more conventional activity of rowing across the water. They are terrified, thinking that some ghostly and probably malevolent apparition is approaching them, likely intent on no good. But when Jesus saw their fear, He spoke to them with these words: “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” So I ask, do you have the assurance of the Lord’s presence with you regardless of the circumstances of your life? Yes? Then “be of good courage.”
In Mark 10:49, we read that a blind man had been making quite a commotion. Some well-meaning people tried to get him to shut up, but the more they insisted, the noisier he became. We read that at this point Jesus stopped and told the people who were shushing the blind man to bring him. Obediently, they turned to the blind man, saying, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.” So I ask, have you been called from despair to hope, from darkness to light, from death to life? Yes? Then “be of good cheer.”
One more, in John 16:32-33, we find Jesus sharing a few quiet words with His closest followers just before he would go to the cross. In the midst of a rather lengthy discourse, Jesus says, “Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” So I ask, are you convinced that Jesus overcame His and our enemies at the cross (conveniently grouped together by the word “world”)? Yes? You’re sure that regardless of how things are right now and how it looks like they might turn out that Jesus is the great and ultimate conqueror? Then, in the name all that’s reasonable, “Cheer up!”
I confess it’s unavoidable for us to be aware of the economic, social, political and other turmoil around us. But given that Christians believe that “this world is not my home” we don’t have to be and affected too deeply by it. Of course, we’ll feel the physical symptoms of the current distress, as we have always felt the effects of sin. We’ll get sick. We’ll lose our jobs. We’ll feel pain when those we love suffer. We’ll face the prospect of never being able to retire. We’ll be the victims of con-men. And on and on goes the list. But in spite of that, Jesus comes to us and says “cheer up!”
Cheer up, because He is the object of our faith - the One we put all of our hope in. Cheer up, because our sins are forgiven - there’s no condemnation. Cheer up, because He has called us. Cheer up, because He has overcome the world. Cheer up, because He is present with us, faithful to His promise to be with us to the end of the age.
We have the right to a positive outlook, even while everyone else is drowning in despair. Do we feel pain? Do we suffer? Do we feel disappointment? Of course. But we also have a Saviour who offers us the option of not succumbing to the gloom. He invites us to be of good cheer, to take heart, to have courage. Express it any way you like, just cheer up!
Ron Hughes
© June 2009
