I'm OptimisticНамуна

MORE GOOD NEWS

If euaggelion—the original Greek word for the Gospel—means God’s Good News, then what is so good about God’s News? Why is it reason enough to always be optimistic? Here are three unwavering reasons from Romans 8 to be optimistic.

1. My sins are forgiven and my eternity is secure.
   If we fully bought into Romans 8:1-4, we could probably just skip the next seven reasons and proceed into an optimism-filled, Gospel-propelled life. Yet, God in His patience gave Paul even more good news.
2. Jesus is at the right hand of God praying for me.
   What? We’re talking about the One from the beginning, who’s in and of God, who came to earth, suffered, died, and then rose to defeat sin and death forever? He’s sitting next to God, on the right side, and talking to Him about me? Romans 8:34 should jump our optimism to Olympic-world-record-breaking heights.
3. My future victory is greater than my present pain.
   In Romans 8:16-21, Paul proves that optimism is not the absence of pain, but rather the presence of eternal perspective. He sets up a lop-sided equation to help us understand. Where A = our current struggle, and B = our eternal victory in Christ, not only does A not equal B, but it’s actually “not worth comparing.”

Consider: Think about the worst news you could ever face. How does it compare to eternal victory in Christ?