CHRISTIAN OPTIMISM

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"CHRISTIAN OPTIMISM" Colossians 3:1-4 March 3,  2002 Given by: Pastor Rich Bersett [Index of Past Messages] Introductory If somebody were to stop you on the street and tell you that after considerable investigation and many significant case studies over an extended period of time, backed by almost all of the world's top authorities in the field, they had come up with irrefutable evidence that real vitality, success, victory, richness, fulfillment, peace, joy and happiness can all distilled into one secret, and that their secret was not very complex - as a matter of fact, it consisted of only one principle that they would guarantee was successful, and they were thinking of writing a book on it - "The One Habit of Highly Effective People", and that they were willing to let you have it for nothing, would you like to have it? Well, Paul the apostle has just finished warning the disciples in Colosse that the offers of untested teachers that seem too good to be true probably are. He brought two chapters of warning against false teaching that was based on a wrong understanding of Christ, legalism, mysticism, angel worship or traditions. But now he turns us on a dime and says that in genuine Christian faith there is one principle you need for all you want in life, and it will give you life in all its richness, life in all its fullness, life in all its meaning, life in all its significance. What is that one key, that one secret, that one truth, that one principle that you and I need for life? It is Jesus - Christ alone. I have entitled this teaching "Christian Optimism". Most of you have heard me say before that the Christian is the one person who truly has reason to be an optimist. This passage will bear that out. They say a pessimist is one who feels bad when he feels good, for fear he'll feel worse when he feels better. The optimist sees the doughnut; the pessimist sees the hole. And this sage advice: When you need to borrow money, always borrow from a pessimist, he doesn't expect to be paid back. Peter Ustinov once said, "The point of living, and of being an optimist, is to be foolish enough to believe the best is yet to come." But so few people have that kind of hope or outlook. In an article in USA Today, entitled, "Proud to be an American, Even with the Jitters", by Marilyn Elias: "According to a Fall 2001 national poll taken by the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research: Only one in five report they often feel hopeful about the future; seven in ten reported such feelings in a comparable 1990 national survey." Let's investigate the message Paul brings to the Colossians and see if we can discover this secret principle of life, this Christian optimism and how our lives might be enriched by it.. In fact, as we read through the text, see if you can't pick up on THREE REASONS FOR CHRISTIAN OPTIMISM and TWO COMMANDS that, when obeyed bring the optimism. Colossians 3:1-4 - "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. St your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you dies, and you life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." The first reason for Christian Optimism - You have been raised with Christ! Back in Colossians, chapter 2, Paul had referred a couple of times to the truth that the Christian has been raised, or resurrected. Now, of course, this is not referring to our physical resurrection. That will not occur until the end of life. But we have already, in a spiritual sense, been raised in Christ. "…having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God who raised him from the dead." (Colossians 2:12-13) Here the beautiful imagery of baptism is brought out to illustrate that our initiation into the Christian life, baptism, is really a death and a resurrection. Take another look at Romans 6:1-4 sometime. Go on down to verse 20 in Colossians 2… "Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, whey, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules…" There's your primary reason for optimism, Christian-you're dead! You are dead to the old way of life, the law of sin and death and all things temporal. The old person died and was buried as you came into new life in Christ. And now you new life is defined as a resurrection life. You have been raised with Christ. Back to Colossians 3:1… "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God." Here's an important observation about this verse: Christ's resurrection to His exalted position with the Father is the Christian's guarantee that his sins have been pardoned. When God raised Jesus from death, He certified that Jesus was who He claimed to be. He also certified that Jesus' death on the cross wasn't just another criminal dying. His death was a voluntary divine sacrifice to pay for the sins of humanity. And when He was raised from the dead, it authenticated the validity of His atoning death. In fact, Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15, "…if Christ has not been raised your faith is futile; you are still in your sins." (vs 17). But He has been raised, your sins are forgiven and, beyond that, you are raised with Him! "…[Baptism] saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand, with angels authorities and powers in submission to him." (1 Peter 3:21-22) Don't miss the command in verse 1: Since Christ has been raised to this exalted place, and you have, spiritually-speaking, been raised with Him, "Set your hearts on things above". I want to park here just long enough to point out that this is the key to the success of your Christian life. This is "first base" in your Christian life. Tennessee Titans center Kevin Long, who played under Coach Bobby Bowden at Florida State University, said his college coach inspired the team with parables. Long recounted a favorite story: [Bowden] was playing college baseball, and he had never hit a home run. Finally he hit one down the right-field line, into the corner. He rounds first and looks to the third base coach. He turned at second, was halfway to third and the coach was still waving him on. He got to home, he hit the plate. He had his first home run, he was so excited and everybody was slapping him five. Then the pitcher took the ball, threw to the first baseman, and the umpire called him out. [Coach Bowden] said, "If you don't take care of first base, it doesn't matter what you do. If you don't honor the Lord first, it doesn't matter what else you do." Our ethical behaviors must draw their power not from rules, traditions and mystical experiences, but from our close intimacy with the exalted Lord Jesus. Thomas a Kempis said, "Seek God, not happiness". The key is to place your focus on Jesus, who is seated above. The word used here implies an absolute obsession. Be obsessed with Christ! Keep looking to Him because you are raised with Him! The second reason for Christian optimism is in verses two and three. "Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." Second Reason for Optimism: Your Life is hid with Christ in God Again, the imagery of baptism is strong here. You are burying the old self, the you that was dead in your sins. One Chinese pastor always says this at baptisms: "I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" and as he lowers the person under the water he says, "I kill you in Jesus' name!" Your life is "hidden with Christ in God" - The source of the Christian's life is not anything in this world, but only in Christ. And the world does not, will not, cannot understand. You have given your life and safekeeping over to Jesus and the full implications of that decision is hidden from view to others. I remember when I first gave my life to Christ. I became an optimist-really for the first time in my life! I suddenly was in touch with God in a most personal way. And others noticed it. When I explained that I was now a Christian, I drew only blank stares from them. They thought a rich uncle had died and I had inherited a million dollars or something. You see, what I had received from my relationship with Christ was "hidden". It won't be fully realized until that day I meet Christ face to face. Then my treasures in Him will be revealed. Again, don't miss the command in verses two-it is similar to the one in verses one. "Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things." Here it is again-the secret to the Christian's life, and really the secret to fulfillment for Christians. Your success at being a good Christian has nothing to do with being careful not to disobey commandments, being careful to observe the right traditions, being careful to live up to the expectations of others. No, the Christian life has to do with keeping Christ as your focus and once He is in focus, doing as you are led. Matthew 6:33, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." The key, the secret ingredient tot he Christian life, is that we don't focus on all the stuff around us-material things, problems, challenges-these things will all be burned up some day. Rather, the Christian learns to focus ONLY ON CHRIST. Tree-skiing may sound like a death wish, but some skiers love the risk of skiing virgin powder lying in a stand of aspen or spruce. The key, of course, is not hitting the trees! In Outside magazine, writer and skier Tim Etchells lays out the challenge: Even more so than in deep snow or moguls, what you focus your eyes on becomes critical in the woods. Look at the spaces between the trees-the exits where you hope to be traveling. "Don't stare at what you don't want to hit," says [extreme-skiing world champion Kim] Reichelm matter-of-factly. Tom Friends of The New York Times asked coach Jimmy Johnson what he told his players before leading the Dallas Cowboys onto the field for the 1993 Super Bowl. "I told them that if I laid a two-by-four across the floor, everybody there would walk across it and not fall, because our focus would be on walking the length of that board. But if I put that same board 10 stories high between two buildings, only a few would make it, because the focus would be on falling." Johnson told his players not to focus on the crowd, the media, or the possibility of falling, but to focus on each play of the game as if it were a good practice session. The Cowboys won the game 52-7. There are so many things in this life that vie to steal your attention and take your focus off Christ. Even religion and trying to be good can steal your focus from Christ. Be careful that you don't get so religiously smart that you leave out the main focus of your faith-Jesus. Some people are so bound up by what they think is good religion, but they have lost connection with the Head, Jesus Christ. One Christian said mournfully that he'd lived his life like the Professor on "Gilligan's Island." While he found time to fashion generators out of palm fronds, and vaccines out of algae, he never got around to fixing that huge hole in the boat so he could go home. How many people actually do? The third reason for Christian optimism: You will appear with Him in glory Now here is some mighty good news, and a refreshing reminder to you who have given your lives to Christ: "When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." (verse 4) Every time the Bible refers to the Second Coming of Christ, the fact that He is coming in "glory" is included. But here, not only is Christ coming in glory, you will be included in that glory, if you are a Christian! What is "glory"? It is the full, unrestricted presence of the Lord and His majesty, holiness and blessing. It is what Peter, James and John were so overwhelmed by at the Mount of Transfiguration. It is what Jesus entered following His death, resurrection and ascension to the right hand of the Father. In fact, it seems that it is often on the "mountains" that glory appears. With that in mind, let's take a little side-road over to Hebrews 12, where the mountain that Moses climbed and there found the glory of God and the ten commandments is contrasted to another mountain. "You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, though he sought the blessing with tears…But you have come to a Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to The church of the firstborn, who names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel." (Hebrews 12:18-24) Christians, that's where you already are! You've been raised to such a place of intimate relationship with God! But it is also a picture of where you're going to be-in the full presence of God! With no earthly inhibitions. In fact there will be no sin or sickness or death or tears in that glory. This is what's coming to you, all because you have stepped into the promises Jesus offered you. What a great basis for living optimistically in this brief life, as we await the "blessed hope!" William Barclay " We must note carefully what Paul means by that. He is certainly not pleading for an other-worldliness in which the Christian withdraws himself from all the work and activities of this world and does nothing but contemplate eternity. Immediately after this Paul goes on to lay down a series of ethical principles which make it quite clear that he expects the Christian to go on with the work of this world and to maintain all its normal relationships. But there will be this difference--from now on the Christian will view everything against the background of eternity and no longer live as if this world was all that mattered. This will obviously give him a new set of values. Things which the world thought important, he will no longer worry about. Ambitions which dominated the world, will be powerless to touch him. He will go on using the things of the world but he will use them in a new way. In Col 3:4 Paul gives to Christ one of the great titles of devotion. He calls him Christ our life. Here is a thought which was very dear to the heart of Paul. When he was writing to the Philippians, he said, "For me to live is Christ" (Php 1:21).Years before, when he was writing to the Galatians, he had said, "It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me"(Gal 2:20). As Paul saw it, to the Christian Christ is the most important thing in life; more, he is life. Immediately after World War II the allied armies gathered up many hungry, homeless children and placed them in large camps. There the children were abundantly fed and cared for. However, at night they did not sleep well. They seemed restless and afraid. Finally, a psychologist hit on a solution. After the children were put to bed, they each received a slice of bread to hold. If they wanted more to eat, more was provided, but this particular slice was not to be eaten-it was just to hold. The slice of bread produced marvelous results. The child would go to sleep, subconsciously feeling it would have something to eat tomorrow. That assurance gave the child a calm and peaceful rest. This is what our blessed hope gives us. Christians, we have every reason to be optimistic. And in that optimism we can live confidently for Him. The things in this world that tend to draw our focus away from Christ are all going to burn up some day-all of it. The only thing that is going to survive the great day of the Lord are His children (by faith in Christ) and the good works they have done in His Name. "…But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness." [webmaster's note: 2 Peter 3:10-13] That's your blessed hope, dear saints! Now go out and live optimistically for Him.   [Back to Top]        
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