Apostolic
Optimism
"Rejoicing in Hope” Rom. xii, 12
John Henry Jowett, D. B.
us.” “Thanks be unto God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” AWFUL INDICTMENT This apostolic optimism was not born of sluggish thinking, or of idle and shal low observation. I am very grateful that the counsel of my text lifts its chaste and cheery flame in the twelfth chapter of an epistle of which the first chapter contains as dark and searching an indictment of our nature as the mind of man has ever drawn. Let me rehearse the appalling catalog that the radiance of the apostle’s optimism may appear the more abounding: “Senseless hearts,” “fools,” “uncleanness,” “vile pas sions,” “reprobate minds,” “unrighteous ness, wickedness, covetousness, malicious ness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inven tors of evil things, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affec tion, unmerciful.” With fearless severity the apostle leads us through the black realms of midnight and eclipse. And yet in the subsequent reaches of the great argu ment, of which these dark regions form the preface, there emerges the clear, calm,
HAT is a characteristic expression of the fine, genial optimism of the Apostle Paul. His eyes are always illu-
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0 ^ = $ ^ ] mined. The cheery tone is never absent from his speech. The buoy ant and springy movement of his life is never changed. The light never dies out of his sky. Even the gray firmament reveals more hopeful tints, and becomes significant of evolving glory. Thè apostle is an optimist, “rejoicing in hope,” a child of light wearing the “armor of light,” “walking in the light” even as Christ is in the light. This apostolic optimism was not a thin and floating sentiment begotten of a cloud less summer day. It was not the creation of a season; it was the permanent pose of the spirit. Even when beset with circum stances which to the world would spell defeat, the apostle moved with the mien of a conqueror. He never lost the kingly pos ture. He was disturbed by no timidity about ultimate issues. He fought and labored in the spirit of certain triumph. “We are always confident.” “We are more than conquerors through Him that loved
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