Because He Lives
JOHN 14:19
I THINK IT IS SAFE TO SAY, “BECAUSE HE LIVES” IS THE FAVORITE HYMN OF MANY CHRISTIANS, and maybe yours, as well…
Because He Lives
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
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
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 day, because He lives
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
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…
THIS BLOG IS INTENDED TO BE AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO EVERYONE who might read it but particularly to anyone who is going through some tribulation at this time and could use a little encouragement at this time. As someone has wisely said, “You are either in a storm right now or you are about to enter a storm.” Life is full of momentous tomorrows, is it not? Sometimes they cause us to tremble with fear. Sometimes we don’t think we can ever face tomorrow.
BUT… “BECAUSE HE LIVES, I CAN FACE TOMORROW.” Familiar words to every Christian who has been in church even occasionally. “Because He Lives” was written by Gloria and Bill Gaither, familiar names to most church-goers. Kristin Chenoweth is also credited with writing the lyrics. Though the song is relatively recent (1971), it is already a Christian classic, regarded as great as many of the all time classic hymns. “Because Jesus is a living Savior, we are given the supernatural strength to face the difficulties of tomorrow,” the Gaithers have said.
I WILL BE APPROACHING THIS WRITING BY MEANS OF A three-point outline: I. Reality; II. Reason; and III. Result…
I. REALITY
THE REALITY OF “BECAUSE HE LIVES I CAN FACE TOMORROW” is history: Christ’s history and our own history. Christ really did live and die and rise from the tomb. He really is a living Savior. And we, too, can testify to the reality of the hymn’s title. We believers know He lives. And we believers know we can face tomorrow because – through Jesus – we have faced many tomorrows and come through them all. That is no small point. We have a track record. God has delivered us through many difficult tomorrows. He has proved Himself unfailingly and incomparably worthy of our trust.
HERE’S THE VERSE THAT INSPIRED THE HYMN. They are the words of Jesus…
KJV John 14:19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth Me no more; but ye see Me: because I live, ye shall live also.
VERY SOON AFTER JESUS SAID THESE WORDS, the world that hated Him would no longer be able to physically see Him. We today, of course, cannot see Jesus with our physical eyes. But you and I and all true believers know we can see Jesus with our spiritual eyes. The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus – mainly through the study of Scripture – and makes Him almost as real to us (some would say “more”) as if we could actually see Him.
WE “LIVE” BECAUSE JESUS LIVES IN US. The next verse says…
KJV John 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
JESUS SAID THESE SAME THINGS IN…
ESV John 6:57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me.
THE THOUGHT OF JESUS BEING PERMANENTLY WITH BELIEVERS is a prominent teaching of the New Testament. “This fellowship is a continuing one. We were not privileged to walk the dusty roads of Palestine with Jesus. But we know an even sweeter fellowship with both the Father and the Son in their presence through the Holy Spirit. And that fellowship now is but a foretaste of a continuing and infinitely richer one in heaven.” – Herschel H. Hobbs
“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.”
BECAUSE JESUS LIVES IN OUR HEARTS, we will live throughout eternity future with Him! And because He lives in us, we can face tomorrow…
BOTH THE HYMN AND THE REALITY OF OUR SPIRITUAL CONDITION depend on the blessed fact that the Lord Jesus Christ is a living Savior. Praise Him!
“HE LIVES, HE LIVES… HE LIVES WITHIN MY HEART.” Jesus Christ is the only being who has ever triumphed over death. It is upon this fact – not His miraculous birth or His death on the Cross, though there are, of course, intimately related – that all of Christianity rests…
KJV 1 Corinthians 15:14 … if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
KJV 1 Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
“CHRIST’S RESURRECTION IS OUR GUARANTEE OF at least two basic truths: First, He has the power to give His life to us and to bring us ultimately to glory to reign with Him forever. And second, His resurrection makes it possible for Him to live in our hearts and to be an integral part of our daily living.” – Kenneth W. Osbeck
NAS John 6:40 “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”
NAS Colossians 3:3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
NAS 2 Timothy 1:10 but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
NAS 1 John 5:11 And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
“HE LIVES!” – THAT’S A REALITY!
“I SERVE A RISEN SAVIOR, He’s in the world today; I know that He is living, whatever men may say; I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer, And just the time I need Him He’s always near. He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives: He lives within my heart.” – Hymn
HE LIVES AND HE HAS DELIVERED ME too many times to count in the past…
KJV Psalm 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
HE DOES LIVE AND WE CAN FACE TOMORROW! That’s the reality…
II. REASON
“TRUST” IS THE REASON WE CAN ACCEPT THE REALITY.
AS I MEDITATED ON THIS MESSAGE THIS WEEK, I came to see it all being a matter of trust. That is to say, you either believe this or you do not. You either believe, “Because He Lives I Can Face Tomorrow,” or you do not. It is a matter of believing, and believing is a matter of trust, of placing your trust in that matchless One who is worthy to receive your trust. So this is another message that strikes at the very heart of our faith: whether we believe or not.
DISEASE, PARTICULARLY CANCER, TOO, WILL STRIKE AT THE VERY HEART OF OUR FAITH. Whenever disease or adversity of any kind comes upon us, I believe the Bible tells us simply and profoundly the best response in every situation without exception is to trust God. It has been my observation over the years that many people tacitly and sadly react to that wisdom with barely concealed suspicion. “Oh, that’s too simple,” they seem to say, “Oh, yes, I know that, but isn’t there something else? I need something more specific, less general.” But there is nothing more specific or immediate than trusting the Lord…
KJV Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; ad lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.
“TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL THINE HEART.” We do well to memorize that and repeat it to ourselves often.
I TRUST YOU, LORD, WITH ALL MY HEART! HELP ME TO GLORIFY YOU IN THIS TRIAL OF FAITH.
CAUSE AND EFFECT – The song, “Because He Lives I Can Face Tomorrow,” presents us with a classic “Cause-Effect” scenario. Cause and Effect works this way: if there is no cause, there is no effect. If I do not believe and trust in the fact that He is living as Lord of my life and involved with my every concern, then I cannot benefit from the effect. The cause is “He Lives.” The effect is “I Am Able.” Because He lives, I am enabled to face tomorrow.
BUT THERE IS AN EVEN DEEPER DIMENSION HERE. It is not just because He lives – as wonderful as that fact is; it’s also because He lives in my heart that I am enabled. Christ rules in my heart as Lord. Christ is living, whether or not He is in your heart. But if Christ is not ruling in your heart as Lord, the cause-effect of this song breaks down. If there is no cause, there is likely little or no effect. You cannot claim the promise of this song unless you are a true believer trusting in Christ as Lord and Savior.
WE ALL KNOW CHRISTIANS WHO LOOK AS IF THEY HABITUALLY eat lemons from the tree. I’m talking about people who, even though they are professing Christians, fight God and His will for their lives, constantly complaining that life has dealt them unfair blows. “Why me, God?”
“IF YOU ARE A GODLY, OBEDIENT CHRISTIAN (who trusts God through the trials of life – TR), you will have an almost startling effect on most people.” – MacArthur
THE QUALITY OF YOUR TRUST IN GOD IS THE FOUNDATION OF YOUR PERSONAL TESTIMONY. “A murmuring, discontent, grumbling, griping, and complaining Christian is never going to have a positive influence on others. It’s incongruous to be talking about the gospel of forgiveness, joy, peace, and comfort, yet be moaning and complaining much of the time. Give people more credit than that: They aren’t going to believe the gospel until they see it do what you say it will do. ‘Show me your redeemed lives, and I might be inclined to believe in your Redeemer’ is a valid challenge for any non-Christian to make. The equation for evangelism is character plus content.” – MacArthur
THE CHRISTIAN WHO CAN EXHIBIT TRUST IN THE MIDST OF RAGING STORM is, indeed, an unforgettable witness.
WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO DIFFICULTY? I assure you, I asked myself this and the following questions this week. How would others assess my response to serious adversity like cancer in my life? Does trusting or complaining most closely define me? Am I a good witness or a grumbler? Am I trusting in God in spite of my circumstances? Am I willing to allow God to work out His purpose through me and my situation? How we respond to adversity has a dramatic effect not only on whether we’re consistent with whom we are as children of God, but also on how we affect others around us.
KJV Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
THAT’S TRUST…
I PRAY WE WILL ALL ALLOW THE MESSAGE OF “BECAUSE HE LIVES” TO IMPROVE OUR INDIVIDUAL RESPONSE TO TRIBULATION. This blog is not just intended to be an encouragement everyone who reads it but a lesson or reminder for all of us concerning some foundational truths of our relationship with God. One such truth is that God is the Potter, we are the clay…
KJV Isaiah 64:8 But now, O LORD, Thou art our Father; we are the clay, and Thou our potter; and we all are the work of Thy hand.
GOD IS IN SOVEREIGN CONTROL OF OUR CIRCUMSTANCES; He is trustworthy, and He is lovingly working all things together for our good and His glory…
KJV Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.
“WHOA, NOW!” Someone is surely saying at this point. “Tell me how cancer can be a good thing.” That’s a good question, one that deserves an answer. I humbly think the best answer to that very natural question is, “I really don’t know, but I trust Him.” Even though I have read a lot of very good attempts to answer that question, I honestly believe that’s the best, most scriptural answer. We cannot know all of God’s ways. One of the great lessons from the Book of Job is that God will not be held responsible to man. He is sovereign; He works His will out in the world in accordance with His plan and He does not explain Himself. But we do know that He is a good and loving God, and if you’re truly a believer and if you truly meditate upon those truths, that’s enough. That’s all we need to know. “Because You’re a good God who loves me and died for me that I might live forever with You in heaven; because in Your Word you tell me that You assure me that You are working all things together for the good of believers – I trust You.” And that trust enables me to put into a biblical perspective even cancer, even the death of a loved one. That trust enables me to look at the events of life and see them as somehow being from You in order to work our Your loving purpose…
“ARE YOU IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES? This thing is from Me (1 Kings 12:24). I am the God of circumstances. I am the Potter lovingly shaping the events of the world and you yourself according to My good and perfect purpose. Thou camest not to thy place by accident; it is the very place God meant for thee. Take comfort in this. Are you passing through a night of sorrow or anxiety? This thing is from Me. I am the Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. I have let earthly comforters fail you, that by turning to Me you may obtain everlasting consolation. Have you not asked to be made humble? See then, I have placed you in the very school where this lesson is taught. Your companions and your circumstances are only working out my will. Let every circumstance that arises, every word that pains you, every interruption that would make you impatient, every revelation of your weakness be anointed with My holy oil. The sting will go as soon as you learn to see Me in all things.” – Streams in the Desert
HOW CAN CANCER BE GOOD? BECAUSE GOD’S IN IT!
HOW CAN A FIERY FURNACE BE GOOD? BECAUSE GOD’S IN IT!
KJV Daniel 3:23-25 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
GOD WAS IN THE FIERY FURNACE and He delivered the three believers…
NAS Daniel 3:27 And the satraps, the prefects, the governors and the king’s high officials gathered around and saw in regard to these men that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men nor was the hair of their head singed, nor were their trousers damaged, nor had the smell of fire even come upon them.
HOW CAN A RAGING STORM AT SEA BE GOOD? BECAUSE GOD’S IN IT!
KJV Matthew 8:23-27 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marveled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
RECENTLY I HAVE BEEN STUDYING THE HISTORY OF ROME. By studying the history of ancient Rome I have a clearer understanding of the times in which Jesus walked upon this earth. I listened to 48 hours of college-level lectures. It was wonderful; I learned a lot. The subject in one of the lecture was about the navy of Rome and how difficult and dangerous it was in ancient times to sail the open seas. The lecturer said that there were times in the midst of a fierce storm that the sailors would take ropes and lash themselves to the masts so that they would not be washed overboard and lost at sea. That image came to my mind this week in putting this blo together. Sometimes maybe we’re like those ancient sailors, panicked by the storm, afraid we’re about to drown. We need to take our prayers and the Word of God and lash ourselves to that great, immovable mast, the Lord Jesus Christ – amen? He’ll keep us from being swept away by the storm. He will strengthen us; He will uphold us…
KJV Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
GOD WAS IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM WITH THE DISCIPLES. And even though the text says they did not trust Him completely, He delivered them from the storm
THE WINDS AND SEA OBEYS HIM, the fires obey Him, cancer obeys Him.
KJV Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust (or take refuge)…
“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”…
WE KNOW THE WORDS WELL, BUT DO WE BELIEVE THEM? It requires trust; that’s the reason…
III. RESULT
THE RESULT OF THE REALITY AND THE REASON IS CONFIDENCE. Because Christ really lives, because we have faced many difficult tomorrows in the past, and because we trust in that reality, the result is a holy boldness.
THE BOOK OF HEBREWS IS ALL ABOUT GROWING STRONGER IN CHRIST. I would like to call to your attention to a verse that may seem somewhat out of place for this blog. It is, and it isn’t…
KJV Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
THIS VERSE IS TALKING MAINLY ABOUT COVETOUSNESS. “Covetousness” is wanting more of what you have enough of already (Haddon Robinson). Christians are to be content with what they have, to be content with what God has given us. That’s a great blog for another time.
BUT I’D LIKE YOU TO FOCUS ON THE LAST PART OF THAT VERSE…
KJV Hebrews 13:5 …for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
TRANSLATED MORE ACCURATELY FROM THE GREEK that clause would better read, “For He Himself hath said, I will never, never, by no means ever leave you or forsake you.” There are no less than five negative particles in the original language here (two would be strong); it is the strongest negative statement in the entire New Testament.
WE HAVE THE PROMISE OF GOD HIMSELF that under no circumstances will He desert us. The Greek word carries the idea of unattachment. God will never detach Himself from us no matter what we may be going through.
LOOK AT THE NEXT VERSE…
KJV Hebrews 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
“THE LORD IS MY HELPER, AND I WILL NOT FEAR.”
BECAUSE HE HAS PROMISED NEVER TO LEAVE US, we may boldly affirm that God is my Helper in this mess I am in and I will not be afraid whatever may happen…
“BECAUSE HE LIVES I CAN FACE TOMORROW!”…
NO MATTER WHAT TOMORROW HAS IN STORE FOR US, Jesus will be there with us. Under no circumstances will He abandon us. He will never leave us. And because He is with us in our tomorrows, we have hope no matter how dark our situation may appear…
NLT Mark 10:27 Jesus looked at them (disciples) intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”
ONE THING I KNOW ABOUT CANCER from my years at the hospital as a chaplain: cancer can change. I personally have seen situations where, in spite of the doctor’s diagnosis, in spite of the mindset of the patient, the cancer has suddenly, inexplicably shrunk or even disappeared altogether. Treatment, also, can change. Just yesterday on the front page of the paper was a story about a new and exciting drug to treat advanced kidney cancer. The point? We must always hope and trust. Only God knows the outcome. Ultimately, God is the doctor. It is God who has the final say on every situation…
UNTIL WE LEARN THAT GOD IS SOVEREIGN, ordering everything for His own holy purposes and for the ultimate good of those who love Him and who are the called according to His purpose, we cannot help but be fearful and even negative about God Himself. That is because if we do not see Him as sovereign and in loving control of our circumstances, then we have taken the responsibility of ordering our own lives. When we see we cannot control things then we inevitably get frustrated and that leads eventually to despair. But if we trust Him, if we recognize that He has things under control – no matter what our circumstances or our emotions may try to tell us, then we can triumph over any situation, even cancer…
EVERYTHING IS UNDER HIS CONTROL AND in His way and in His time, one way or another, He will bring us through… or He will bring us home.
LET US TRUST HIM.
“BECAUSE HE LIVES WE CAN FACE TOMORROW!”
