"Man Up!" - La, La Land or Optimism?

The American Heritage College Dictionary defines an optimist as “One who usually expects a favorable outcome,” while the WordNet 3.0 Thesaurus adds “A person disposed to take a favorable view of things.”  I think that this description would adequately describe my wife and I.  I would imagine that it was one of the things that brought us together back in High School.  It was and still is very enjoyable and rewarding to have a partner in life that always seems to have a positive and encouraging outlook on just about everything!  I also think that this is one characteristic that has set us apart from many within each of our individual families!  I know that it has been a point of contention over the years concerning directions that we have pursued.

But it is also one of personal ingredients that get me very excited when I read scriptures like Ephesians 3:10 where the Apostle Paul tells us that Papa God has tagged the Church to be His voice in the world today!  You know, I can’t help but think that Paul was also an optimist when it came to the things of God.  In Ephesians 3:8 he talks of the “unsearchable riches of Christ,” and then in verse ten speaks of His “manifold wisdom.” (KJV)  As you read through Paul’s letters it is easy to pick up his wonder at God’s amazing and limitless abilities as he repeatedly uses multiple descriptive words to define them, like at the end of the same chapter we are currently discussing when he wrote about how God is “able to do exceeding, abundantly above all that ask or think.” Ephesians 3:19 KJV)

In the scriptures mentioned above, Thayer’s Greek Definitions defines “unsearchable” as something “that cannot be searched out or comprehended.”  According to Strong’s, the intent of the original language for the word “manifold” speaks of that which has “great diversity or variety,” while Thayer’s definition of Paul’s use of the word “wisdom” makes it clear that it is a level of wisdom that goes far beyond any worldly understanding and will have answers and directions for every and all needs and situations as well as having answers for ALL of our questions.

Now, with all that in mind, when I look at today’s world situation in the light of God’s planned role for the church to play in bringing history to His intended goal, as stated in Ephesians 3:10-11 in the God’s Word © translation, I do not react in fear and disbelief, but just the opposite… I get VERY EXCITED and EXPECTANT of seeing God move through you and me! 

Now you might be thinking about how this is supposed to happen.  Well, take another look at those two scriptures.  Verse ten speaks of how “through the church, he could let the rulers and authorities in heaven know his infinite wisdom.”  Then the next verse says that it is “carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.” (God’s Word ©)  That makes it pretty clear that Jesus in cooperation with the church are to be working hand in hand through His wisdom and directions and our actions of faith in Him.  Multiple scriptures throughout the Word like 1 Corinthians 6:15, tell us that we are all part of the body of Christ with Him as the head, and to make it quite simple, the head is now seated in the place of ultimate authority at the right hand of Papa God and His body (ie; you and me) are on the earth doing what He is instructing us to do!

Now if that doesn’t make you optimistic about what is supposed to happen in our world… then I think you’d best go hide somewhere and study His Word until you get it!  When push comes to shove, for this to work as I believe God has it planned, you and I have to come to the point of belief that God’s Word is the strongest, most powerful and wisest force in the world… and that NOTHING can stand before it… or you and I as we walk in the dominion of His kingdom capabilities, as defined in Ephesians 6:10.

Now, let me go back and say that it is the force of faith in Him that has become the foundation of the optimistic attitude that my wife and I have.  That optimism has come under some serious scrutiny over the years… in fact I remember one member of the family once telling me that we lived in a “La, La Land and that this attitude had to stop!”  Well, our faith in Papa God and His Word has only grown since then and that so called “La, La Land” attitude that they described our stand of faith to be has also grown all the more!

What about you?  Are you going to live in the “La, La Land” of indecision, fear, doubt and unbelief that is being projected to us through the world events reported in the newspapers, TV and online… or step out in the optimistic reality of God’s Word and be a mighty part of His plan for history?  Oh, Oh, Oh!  Now I’m really getting excited! 

Think about all this over the weekend, make your decision, get excited and move out in the victorious directions He has for you to pursue… and keep asking yourself… “What or Who’s plan am I expecting to be a part of today?”