Written
by Bill and Gloria Gaither in 1971, Because He lives has become one of
the most well-known and well-loved contemporary Christian songs. The chorus is
a testimony of hope and assurance:
Because He lives, 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
It’s
true, because He lives, I can face tomorrow (and we will come back to that
later), but there’s more.
Because
He lives, I can face yesterday
There’s
something we all have in common, and that is that there are things in our past
that we are ashamed of. As we take a trip down memory lane, there are side
streets and dark alleys we don’t want to revisit.
How
do you respond to your past? Denial? Do you pretend the wrong you have done
doesn’t matter, and that there will never be a day of reckoning when the
account has to be settled? Or do you suppose that the good you have done
balances the books and settles the debt?
Or
do you respond to your past with despair? Recognising you have messed up, and
can never earn God’s favour, do you feel hopeless and defeated.
The
gospel allows you to face your past honestly in all its ugliness and yet not be
overcome by despair. How come? Because He lives!
The
death of Christ shows us we shouldn’t live in denial – sin is infinitely costly
and must be dealt with. But His resurrection shows us we needn’t live in
despair – His death was enough to pay the price, and so death couldn’t hold Him,
and the grave couldn’t keep Him.
The
resurrection of Christ is like the receipt of our salvation. When Satan accuses
me, conscience condemns me and past sins haunt me, I can produce the receipt of
my salvation that proves it is fully paid for, and legally acquired. So, I can
now look at the sad, sorry history of my sin, and know it’s all forgiven, and
put away – because He lives.
Because
He lives, I can face today
It
is not God’s time (yet) to remove all the evil and suffering from the world.
There are tears, broken hearts, and shattered lives. But for the Christian
there is something else – the help and presence of the Lord, because He lives!
When
loved ones die, they are separated from us – we can no longer get their help,
draw on their wisdom, experience their nearness or benefit from their strength.
If the Lord Jesus were still dead, He wouldn’t be able to help anyone, but He
lives, and, because of that, you don’t have to struggle through life in your
own strength. This was something I was unaware of when I came to Christ for
salvation, but I have become so aware of it, and thankful for it, since. Every
Christian can give their testimony to the truth of the Lord’s words, “I will
never leave you, nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).
His
presence, peace and power are all available for the Christian (see Philippians
4:4-13) as we face the demands, heartaches, and trials of life, all because He
lives.
Because
He lives, I can face tomorrow
You
might have dread in your heart as you think of tomorrow – fearing what might
be. But “what might be” may never be, and, even if it is, the Lord will be
there with you if you know Him as Saviour. Your greatest fear may never come,
but, if you are a Christian, your greatest hope will. While we don’t know what
the future holds immediately, we do know what it holds ultimately.
Each
day brings us closer to our last day on earth. But the Christian knows that
death can’t harm or hold him. When he dies, he goes to “be with Christ, which
is far better” (Philippians 1:23). And although this is far better, it’s not
the best – there is something even better, and that is when the Lord comes, and
all those Christians who have died will be raised in bodies incapable of death,
decay or weakness (see 1 Corinthians 15:51-55; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), and
the reason is, because He lives. He said, “Because I live, you will live also”
(John 14:19). The Lord Jesus has conquered death, so all those that belong to Him
will share in His victory and enter into His glory.
In
1 Corinthians 15:12-19 Paul spelt out what it would mean if Christ were still
dead. He says, “if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in
your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If
in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.”
It means there is no answer for our sins, there is no purpose in our suffering,
there is no hope beyond the grave. But, in verse 20 he says with relief and
triumph, “But now Christ is risen from the dead…”
So,
I can face the past with all its regrets, I can face the present with all its
trials, I can face the future with all its uncertainties, all because, only
because, He lives.
