I would like to read for you Revelation 20:11-15 and as I’m reading consider this question - “Are you a pessimist or an optimist?”

Revelation 20:11-15: Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it; from His presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, by what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead in them, and all were judged by what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the Lake of Fire. This is the second, death, the Lake of Fire; and if any one’s name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the Lake of Fire.

Our Armenian Evangelical forefathers stated the belief of our church this way - its a good summary of the verses we just read: "We believe that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and of the unjust, and a day of judgment: and that the happiness of the righteous, and the punishment of the wicked, commence at death, and continue without end.”

A pastor was speaking about this one Sunday - and he stated in a powerful way that all the members of the church would one day be judged by God. And everyone in the church was very sober and unnerved by that truth. Except one man in the front row who began to laugh hysterically - to the point where he fell off the pew. The pastor stared down at him and said, “Why are you so happy?” The man said, “I’m not a member of this church!”

We live in an increasingly paranoid and fearful society. We are politically correct and fearful of being politically incorrect. Afraid of dying and death - prolonging life and unable to die - and yet seeking to murder the infirmed and aged. We champion the rights of individuals and yet murder the unborn. There is an explosion of information available to us and yet we are fearful of the unknown. And while we rush towards becoming a “global village” we are fearful of exposure and loosing our privacy. We speak optimistically - and yet in our hearts we are pessimists. So many ask, “Is there really any thing to hope for in life?”

Jesus is coming back - as surely as He came the first time. Revelation 20 describes, in part, what will happen when He returns - verses which speak of judgment and condemnation - a casting into the Lake of Fire and eternal torment and separation from God - a very sad and terrifying end to our lives. And in our pessimistic society so many people see only God’s coming wrath. To the point where people refuse to believe in Jesus because they cannot believe in a God who judges people for their actions.

Even Christians tend to focus on the wrath of God. They serve Him because it is their obligation to do so. Trusting Jesus is like a type of “Fire Insurance” - a way to avoid the Lake of Fire. And with trusting Jesus comes all of the obligations and things we are suppose to do. Do this or God will get you. Its a pessimistic way to live life.

A pessimist will look forward to the future with skepticism - cynicism - fear. An optimist will see only possibilities and look forward with great expectation.

Are we pessimists or optimists? How do we view the future?

There is a coming judgment and the reality is that we will all be judged - Muslims - Buddhist - atheist - deist - and even Christians. And yet, in the midst of judgment - the Bible shows us that God is an optimist. God provides us a way past judgment to eternal life - joy - and the presence of God forever. God reveals Himself to us as an optimist.

John 3:16 and 17 are very familiar verses - and they are very relevant for us this morning - listen to the optimism: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world should be saved through Him."

God knows that judgment must come - and yet, God has come - born in a manger - lived among us - died - resurrected - ascended - and is coming back to take with Him all those who will trust in Jesus as their Savior - those who have trusted Jesus as their Savior will enter into the eternal happiness and the joy of the forever presence of God.

Are you a pessimist or an optimist? - And the answer to that question lies in how you live your life. Is your life shaped by the joyful expectation that Jesus is coming soon?

There is an account told of a group of Christians who went out onto a hill to pray for rain. There had been a long drought - the crops were threatened - disaster was pending - and these Christians proceses out of the town to a hill - just outside of town - to pray for rain. And with them came this little girl carrying an umbrella.

They asked her, “Little girl, why are you carrying that umbrella?”

“Well,” she answered, “You said we were going to ask God to send rain - I just want to be ready.”

After all the Christmas Carols we’ve sung this morning and during this season of Advent - and as we prepare to celebrate Jesus’ first coming - it is crucial that we become optimists - because Jesus is coming back. If we believe in the joyful reality of what we see and hear - we should live in the joyful expectation of His return.

Three realities:

1. We Must Know Him - You must trust Him as your personal Savior - who has come to free you from the coming judgment and condemnation for your sins. God says “Whoever believes in Jesus should not perish but have eternal life.” That promise is for everyone here this morning - life - hope - liberation.

But just knowing the promise is not enough - we must receive the promise. Like we receive presents at Christmas - to accept it - to take it - to make it a part of our lives. We need to say to God - thank you for Jesus - for forgiving my sins - come into my heart - my life is yours.

2. We Must Follow Him - Do those things which draw us closer to Him - to live in the life and hope that He gives us. Being here on Sunday morning - to worship Him and learn about Him is a wise choice. Millions of people who say that they believe in Jesus - this child in a manger - will have found something else to do this morning - and they will reap what they’re sowing.

During the week - choose to read the Bible - to study it and pray about what you’re reading and your life - choose to live in obedience to God’s word. These are the signs of an optimist who believes in an eternal future with God. The certain reality of what Christmas means.

3. We Must Testify of Him - To tell others the Gospel - Especially at this time of the year when it is so easy to get caught up in all of the stuff of Christmas - all the external stuff - lights and songs and family and gifts and even church services. Which are all good - but take us away from the reality that Jesus has come and is coming.

It seems - during this season of the year - almost everywhere we go there is a testimony of Jesus. In the shopping malls and on the radio there are all these Christmas carols being played. And in front of people’s houses there are manger scenes. And Candy Canes with the testimony of Jesus we heard about in the Children’s Message. And all these Santa Clauses - Saint Nicholas who lived in the town of Lycia - in Turkey - during the 300’s A.D. - and who was extremely kind - and because of his relationship with Jesus went and gave gifts to the needy.

People hear all of this - and people are hurting - and this is the time of the year when their hearts are open. They’re looking for something to be optimistic about. And we should ask them, “Do you understand what you are hearing? Christmas is not just on December 25th or January 6th. Christmas is a 365 day a year celebration that will go on into eternity when Jesus comes back. Do you know His hope - His joy - freedom from the burden and condemnation of your sin? You can celebrate Christmas by allowing Jesus to come into your heart today.”