The Temptation Of Pessimism

THE TEMPTATION OF PESSIMISM

MATTHEW 11:2-6

IT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY EASY TO FALL INTO THE TRAP OF PESSIMISM IN OUR WORLD. THE NUMBER OF EVIL THINGS IN THE WORLD CONTINUES TO INCREASE, AND AS IT DOES WE MAY FALL INTO THE TRAP OF SAYING “THAT’S JUST THE WAY THINGS ARE, AND WE MIGHT AS WELL GET USED TO IT.”

THE ULTIMATE RESULT IS THAT WE FALL PREY TO PESSIMISM, AND BECOME SO FULL OF THE NEGATIVE SIDE OF THE WORLD, THAT WE FAIL TO SEE THE POSITIVE BLESSINGS THAT GOD HAS FOR US.

CONSIDER THE DEFINITION OF PESSIMISM.

ONE WRITER STATES: “PESSIMISM IS A FEELING OR BELIEF THAT BAD THINGS WILL HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE: A FEELING OR BELIEF THAT WHAT YOU HOPE FOR WILL NOT HAPPEN.

AN ENGLISH DEFINITION STATES THAT PESSIMISM IS THE EMPHASIZING OR THINKING OF THE BAD PART OF A SITUATION RATHER THAN THE GOOD PART, OR THE FEELING THAT BAD THINGS ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAPPEN THAN GOOD THINGS.

WEBSTER DEFINES IT AS:

1. THE TENDENCY TO EXPECT THE WORST AND SEE THE WORST IN ALL THINGS

2. THE DOCTRINE OF THE ULTIMATE TRIUMPH OF EVIL OVER GOOD

3. THE DOCTRINE THAT THIS WORLD IS CORRUPT AND THAT MAN'S SOJOURN IN IT IS A PREPARATION FOR SOME OTHER EXISTENCE.

THE WORLD OF THE PESSIMIST IS A VERY DARK WORLD, WITH LITTLE TO BE HAPPY ABOUT, LITTLE TO PLACE THEIR FAITH IN. CHRISTIANS ARE NOT IMMUNE TO PESSIMISM, AND IN MANY CASES IT WILL COME OUT AS LEGALISM IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER. THE CRY OF THE CHRISTIAN PESSIMIST IS “THOU SHALT NOT.”

JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS IN A POSITION IN OUR PASSAGE TODAY, TO EASILY FALL INTO THE TRAP OF PESSIMISM. WHEN WE CONSIDER HOW IMPORTANT JOHN WAS BEFORE AND AT THE BEGINNING OF JESUS’ MINISTRY, AND WHERE WE FIND HIM IN THIS PASSAGE, THE WORDS OF 2 SAMUEL 1:25 COME TO MIND.

2 SAMUEL 1:25: YOUR MIGHTY MEN HAVE FALLEN

BY WAY OF CONTEXT, LET US BEGIN BY STUDYING THE LIFE OF JOHN THE BAPTIST UP TO THIS POINT. JOHN WAS TO BE THE LAST PROPHET OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, AND THE FIRST EVANGELIST IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.

MATTHEW 3:1-3 IN THOSE DAYS JOHN THE BAPTIST CAME AND PREACHED IN THE DESERT OF JUDEA. 2HE SAID, “TURN AWAY FROM YOUR SINS! THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NEAR.” 3JOHN IS THE ONE THE PROPHET ISAIAH HAD SPOKEN ABOUT. HE HAD SAID, “A MESSENGER IS CALLING OUT IN THE DESERT, ‘PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE LORD. MAKE STRAIGHT PATHS FOR HIM.’ ” (ISAIAH 40:3)

JOHN’S POPULARITY WAS GREAT WHEN HE FIRST STARTED. HE PREACHED A MESSAGE OF REPENTANCE AND BAPTISM FOR THE REMISSION ON SINS. JOHN THE BAPTIST ANNOUNCED THE KINGDOM OF GOD, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT ESTABLISHED IT WAS PREACHED.

JOHN WAS THE FORERUNNER OF THE MESSIAH AND THE FIRST PROCLAIMER OF THE KINGDOM. WITHOUT THE PREPARATION OF JOHN, JESUS COULD NOT EVEN HAVE BEGUN HIS MINISTRY. JOHN WAS THE TRANSITION POINT – FROM THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS (THE OLD TESTAMENT) TO THE FULFILMENT IN THE MESSIAH. HIS IMPORTANCE THEN WAS BEYOND ALL MEASURE.

ONE WRITER STATES:

“JOHN WAS NOT A “POPULAR PREACHER” WHO CATERED TO THE CROWD, NOR WAS HE A REED IN THE WIND WHO VACILLATED WITH EVERY CHANGE. HE WAS A MAN OF CONVICTION AND COURAGE, THE GREATEST OF THE PROPHETS. THE FACT THAT JOHN WAS PRIVILEGED TO ANNOUNCE THE MESSIAH GAVE HIM THIS HIGH POSITION. HIS MINISTRY MARKED THE CLIMAX OF THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS.”

JESUS SAID OF JOHN:

MATTHEW 11:14-15: 14IF YOU ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT IT, JOHN IS THE ELIJAH WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO COME. 15THOSE WHO HAVE EARS SHOULD LISTEN.

JESUS’ COMPARISON OF ELIJAH AND JOHN IS VERY APPROPRIATE. THE SCRIPTURES DECLARE THAT JOHN CAME IN THE SPIRIT AND POWER OF ELIJAH.

LUKE 1:13-17:

13BUT THE ANGEL SAID TO HIM, “DO NOT BE AFRAID, ZECHARIAH. YOUR PRAYER HAS BEEN HEARD. YOUR WIFE ELIZABETH WILL HAVE A CHILD. IT WILL BE A BOY, AND YOU MUST NAME HIM JOHN. 14HE WILL BE A JOY AND DELIGHT TO YOU. HIS BIRTH WILL MAKE MANY PEOPLE VERY GLAD. 15HE WILL BE IMPORTANT IN THE LORD’S EYES.

“HE MUST NEVER USE WINE OR OTHER SUCH DRINKS. HE WILL BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT FROM THE TIME HE IS BORN. 16HE WILL BRING MANY OF ISRAEL’S PEOPLE BACK TO THE LORD THEIR GOD. 17AND HE WILL PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE LORD. HE WILL HAVE THE SAME SPIRIT AND POWER THAT ELIJAH HAD. HE WILL TEACH PARENTS HOW TO LOVE THEIR CHILDREN. HE WILL ALSO TEACH PEOPLE WHO DON’T OBEY TO BE WISE AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT. IN THIS WAY, HE WILL PREPARE A PEOPLE WHO ARE READY FOR THE LORD.”

JOHN DRESSED AND MINISTERED LIKE ELIJAH:

MATTHEW 3:4: JOHN’S CLOTHES WERE MADE OUT OF CAMEL’S HAIR. HE HAD A LEATHER BELT AROUND HIS WAIST. HIS FOOD WAS LOCUSTS AND WILD HONEY.