Perspective is the Key

The follower of Christ is not a pessimist, nor is he first an potimist. He is first a realist and then an optimist. In other words, the Christian is not optimistic because it is the most advantageous way to think but because it is the accurate way to think. The Christian's optimism is based squarely on realim: God is real, the atonement is real, the resurrection is real, the second coming is real, God's providence is real, and the gospel really is "good news".

Perspective is what Joshua and Caleb had, and the other ten spies didn't (Number 13-14). Joshua and Caleb enter Canaan and saw the land, the fruit, the potential for prosperity, and a place for their families to live and worship God. The other ten spies went to the same land and saw giants - great men of war, who made conquering the land seem impossible. Joshua and Caleb saw exactly the same giants. But somehow, to them, they just didn't seem so big. The two saw God bigger than giants. The ten saw giants as bigger than God. Because they saw God on his throne, Joshua and Caleb could look at the same set of circumstances and see a completely different picture than others saw - a picture both realistic and optimistic.

- by Randy Alcorn