I saw a funny cartoon recently. I am not familiar with the author’s religious beliefs, but the work conveys some theological truths. A man is walking down the sidewalk with a sign that says, “The End Is Near.” Another man with another sign follows him. It reads, “This Will Never End.” The second man says to the first, “Your optimism disgusts me.” The cartoon can be found here: https://blog.prototypr.io/optimising-for-optimism-78ab12d269c1 

The humor is found in the seeming contradiction. How can a person who says the end is near be called an optimist? If a person believes the world is going to end, people would say that he is the most pessimistic person we know.   

In the cartoon, the first man is a religious zealot of some sort. He is warning anybody who will listen that God is about to judge the world catastrophically. The world as we know it will then come to an apocalyptic end. The second is a humanist who is complaining that the world could be better if only people would treat each other better. He looks around and sees corruption, which discourages him. He has practically lost hope that things will ever change. He doesn’t believe in a god that will judge the world, but has resigned himself to the fact that the problems of this world will continue. In his depression, he concludes it might be better if the world did end. Hence, his humorous statement to the first man, who says the world is about to be destroyed. If the world were to end, then so would all the corruption. Such a “good” turn of events is disgustingly optimistic!  

If you are a believer—at least a dispensational one—you are like the first guy in the cartoon. You believe the end of the world is indeed near. Christ is coming soon. When he does, He will judge the world with devastating plagues. He will eventually destroy this world and create another one. 

In one sense, the unbelieving world looks at such beliefs as pessimistic and fatalistic. They might even accuse us of not caring about the world’s problems. 

But if an unbeliever takes an honest gaze at the world, he might see things differently. Our world is a mess. Paul says that the creation itself longs for the end of this age and the corruption that fills it. It is as if it groans for that day (Rom 8:18-22). 

  Even many unbelievers realize it. The second guy in the cartoon is an illustration of such a person. He sees no hope in the future. He believes the problems of the world will persist. There is no hope. He cannot imagine a world without death or corruption. It is a pipe dream. The idea that this world will end and a perfect world will emerge is often viewed as naively optimistic. 

The believer, on the other hand, has a sure hope that the world will come to an end (Rom 8:23-25; 2 Cor 5:1-8). Because of sin and rebellion against God, this world must come to an end. At first glance, that certainly appears pessimistic. However, with just a little reflection, the Biblical view of this world is remarkably optimistic. Who would want this world to continue as it is forever? Who wouldn’t want a world in which righteousness dwells (2 Pet 3:13)?

Grace people have the most optimistic message imaginable. We declare that anybody who believes in Jesus for eternal life has it. They can never lose it. We wait for the day when this world will end, and we receive a body that matches the life we already have.  

Let’s proclaim that message. The unbeliever has hope only in this world. What a pessimistic life. Like the second guy in the cartoon, they realize that is the case. Our message is what they need to hear. At first, it might disgust them, but the Holy Spirit will convince some of them that it is true (John 16:8-9).