Because He Lives…

Because He Lives…

Happy Easter!  While we celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ every Sunday, today is still special because it is the actual anniversary of that momentous event!

The song, Because He Lives, eloquently articulates our hope in Jesus.

An Empty Grave is there to Prove my Savior Lives

(Verse 1)
God sent his son. They called him Jesus. He came to love, heal and forgive.
He lived and died to buy my pardon. An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.

Jesus, indeed, came to love, heal, and forgive. He was crucified and buried in a tomb, but he did not remain there!  He rose from the dead on the third day.  That empty grave is there to prove our savior lives!

Matthew 28:1-6  After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.  ² There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.  ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.  ⁴ The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.  ⁵ The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  ⁶ He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

This Child Can Face Uncertain Days Because He Lives

(Verse 2)
How sweet to hold a newborn baby and feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance: this child can face uncertain days because he lives.

One concern every prospective parent shares is the kind of world their children will have to face.  This song affirms that because of Christ, his accomplished work, and resurrection from the dead our children have a future.

This hope is shared by every one of us as well. The chorus affirms that we have hope, courage, assurance, and purpose because he lives!

(Chorus)
Because he live, I can face tomorrow. Because he lives, all fear is gone.
Because I know, He holds the future. And life is worth the living, just because he lives

Jesus proclaimed this assurance to his disciples in John 16.

John 16:33   “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

I’ll See the Lights of Glory and I’ll Know He Reigns

The third verse addresses our greatest fear of all – death.

(Verse 3)
And then one day, I’ll cross the river. I’ll fight life’s final war with pain.
And then as death gives way to victory, I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know he reigns.

Death is never far from our thoughts.  Every wrinkle, every pain, and every illness is a constant reminder. Sadly, there are times when it becomes even more real as we say goodbye to someone we know and love.

It is also natural and human that we fear death. As far as our experience tells us, death is final. We have never seen someone come back from the dead; they are gone as far as we can discern.  We fear that as we breathe our last, all that we are will disappear into nothingness, but Jesus came to free us from our fear of death.

1 Corinthians 15:55-57   ⁵⁵ “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”  ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Because He Lives walks us through our last moments of life. There will be pain and suffering. Our bodies struggle against the inevitable. We trust that God’s promises are true, but we know them only by faith and not sight (2 Corinthians 5:5). “What will happen next?” we think. Then it’s all over. We cross the river. The silver cord is severed. The golden bowl is broken. The pitcher is shattered at the spring and the wheel is broken at the well (Ecclesiastes 12).

Light fades from our eyes. Ambient sounds grow dim. The touch of our loved one’s hand gives way to nothingness. What happens next?  Are you a Christian? You will open your eyes again! You will see the lights of glory in the presence of Jesus himself, Because He Lives!

Live in Hope of Glory! Joey