THE SPIRIT OF OPTIMISM
TOMORROW WILL BE BETTER THAN TODAY!
by Erwin Bourne—December 31, 2001
This is the spirit of optimism that pervades the New
Testament from Matthew to the Apocalypse. There may
be some dark days ahead for the Church, but we must
keep in mind, Christ wants us safely home. The end,
therefore is better than the beginning. Here’s what
Matthew 19:29 says: And everyone who has given up
houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or
children or property for my sake, will have a hundred
times as much in return and will have eternal life
(NLT).
Verse 19:30 concludes: But many that are first shall
be last; and the last shall be first. December 31st
is the last of 2001; January 1st is the first of
2002. I will here quote this verse from the LNT. But
many who seem to be important now will be the least
important then, and those who are considered least
here will be the greatest then. In Leticia, Colombia,
the New Year will be welcomed with a stupendous
outburst of fireworks, the wail of sirens, the heavy
blare of fire trucks, and the deep-throated tones of
fog-horns from whatever ships are at anchor in the
harbor, Leticia.
Old folks know more about being young
than young folks know about being old.
My Great-Great Grandparents, Emily and Eleazer
Carpenter, built the first frame house in Buffalo
County, Nebraska. Emily’s famous words were, “Next
year will be a better one!” My Dad’s brother, Uncle
Hank, often told me that he was born one-hundred years
too late. He spent his best years in a saddle working
horses and cattle. He wished he could have lived
during the days of the great cattle drives. The
nostalgic cowboy song, “EMPTY SADDLES,” was sung at
his funeral.. Many a Christian would have liked to
have lived in the days when Christ walked here on
earth. However, we are living in the finest hour of
New Testament fulfillment—right now, today!
If only you knew that I came to help and not to
condemn…that tomorrow will be better than today…If
only you knew that I want you safely home.
Yours for the OUTREACH 2002
Erwin and Jean Bourne
|