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OPTIMISM—PESSIMISM

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 20, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 8.

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OPTIMISM—PESSIMISM

WE do not believe in either. We are neither pessimist nor optimist. We do not believe with the optimist that all things are for the best, whatever their appearance; nor do we believe with the pessimist that all things are tending toward the bad, or that things are as bad as they can be.
Strictly speaking, the Christian philosophy is neither optimistic nor pessimistic. The ultimate of things either good or bad depends on their relation to the great Creator and Ruler of the universe.
The things—be they mountains or men—which continue out of harmony with God are doomed to extinction. They are not of God. But those things in harmony with God, tho they be buried ten thousand fathoms in the sea, shall issue into glory and life everlasting.
The assurance of the Christian is: “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. . . . What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Rom. 8:28-31. The only wise thing is to be of God; and that is the privilege of every soul.