Because He Lives
Because
He lives, I can face tomorrow... When these words were written in 1971, times were
tumultuous with unrest and denial of the existence of Lord our God, drugs, and
rebellion reflected in an overthrow of a peace-loving land. The ‘streets of
Mayberry’ seem to roll-up and become deserted. Now, almost sixty years later,
the world again seems to deepen its precarious and hopeless living in chaos.
He lives, I can face tomorrow... When these words were written in 1971, times were
tumultuous with unrest and denial of the existence of Lord our God, drugs, and
rebellion reflected in an overthrow of a peace-loving land. The ‘streets of
Mayberry’ seem to roll-up and become deserted. Now, almost sixty years later,
the world again seems to deepen its precarious and hopeless living in chaos.
The lyrics of Because He Lives, comfort and challenge us to hold on to hope through
the faithful love of our Lord God and adds:
Because He lives, all fear is gone. 1 John 4:18 proclaims: Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced
his perfect love.
the faithful love of our Lord God and adds:
Because He lives, all fear is gone. 1 John 4:18 proclaims: Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced
his perfect love.
The first word of the title captures my
attention. Did your parents follow your,
“Why”, with an emphatic, “Because I said so!”
Or was this implied with an unstated expectation delivered with body
language?
attention. Did your parents follow your,
“Why”, with an emphatic, “Because I said so!”
Or was this implied with an unstated expectation delivered with body
language?
Bill and Gloria Gaither met as teachers
in the same high school in Alexandria, Indiana.
They found Bill’s music and Gloria’s lyrical writing made a productive
relationship. This soon blossomed into a
prolific husband and wife writing team.
in the same high school in Alexandria, Indiana.
They found Bill’s music and Gloria’s lyrical writing made a productive
relationship. This soon blossomed into a
prolific husband and wife writing team.
Later Bill Gaither became the head of
the English department after he earned a Master’s degree. Gloria also earned a
master’s degree. In songwriting, Bill
wrote a musical setting with an idea in mind, and Gloria wrote the lyrics with
his idea in mind. This method produced more than seven-hundred songs and sixty
recordings.
the English department after he earned a Master’s degree. Gloria also earned a
master’s degree. In songwriting, Bill
wrote a musical setting with an idea in mind, and Gloria wrote the lyrics with
his idea in mind. This method produced more than seven-hundred songs and sixty
recordings.
It was on New Year’s Eve one year,
Gloria sat in the living room in fear and dread. The ‘God is dead’ belief filtered
into the educational system, while drug abuse and racial tensions increased. Bill was recovering from a bout with
mononucleosis and Gloria was pregnant. Suddenly a gentle and calming peace
filled her. Gloria knew the calm and
assurance came from the Lord. After the
birth of this expected child, Because He
Lives, became a song we share.
Gloria sat in the living room in fear and dread. The ‘God is dead’ belief filtered
into the educational system, while drug abuse and racial tensions increased. Bill was recovering from a bout with
mononucleosis and Gloria was pregnant. Suddenly a gentle and calming peace
filled her. Gloria knew the calm and
assurance came from the Lord. After the
birth of this expected child, Because He
Lives, became a song we share.
The last two phrases of the chorus: Because I know, I know, He holds the future –
And life is worth the living just because He lives!
And life is worth the living just because He lives!
Often it is the darker times in our
lives, God leads us into a deeper understanding. He teaches us to depend on Him
for our very existence.
lives, God leads us into a deeper understanding. He teaches us to depend on Him
for our very existence.
Do you remember the time when you were
a child and you had total trust in your parents? What a gift and assurance! In our adult life,
we still have this joy as God’s Children through Jesus Christ. This dependence on our Lord God for our
sustenance, joy and faith creates a deep peace each day. Everything good in this life comes from Jesus
Christ, who died on the cross, and rose to sit at the right hand of God. He gives us the hope of forgiveness and
belonging, Because He Lives. We belong to the One Who holds this world in
His Hands.
a child and you had total trust in your parents? What a gift and assurance! In our adult life,
we still have this joy as God’s Children through Jesus Christ. This dependence on our Lord God for our
sustenance, joy and faith creates a deep peace each day. Everything good in this life comes from Jesus
Christ, who died on the cross, and rose to sit at the right hand of God. He gives us the hope of forgiveness and
belonging, Because He Lives. We belong to the One Who holds this world in
His Hands.
Soon
the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. When I am raised to life
again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in
you. John 14:19-20. What a beautiful promise. Our hearts fill with joy each new day! I remember my Mother’s prayer each morning, “What do you have for me today, Lord?
Expectant living, not dread, is ours when we belong to our Lord God and live
for Him.
the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. When I am raised to life
again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in
you. John 14:19-20. What a beautiful promise. Our hearts fill with joy each new day! I remember my Mother’s prayer each morning, “What do you have for me today, Lord?
Expectant living, not dread, is ours when we belong to our Lord God and live
for Him.
Will life bring tears? Yes, yet in
Christ Jesus, these tears are precious to Him.
You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears
in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. Psalm 56:8.
Christ Jesus, these tears are precious to Him.
You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears
in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. Psalm 56:8.
Do our prayers matter? Yes, indeed! And when he took the scroll, the four living
beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a
harp, and they held gold bowls
filled with incense, which are the prayers
of God’s people. Revelation 5:8.
beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a
harp, and they held gold bowls
filled with incense, which are the prayers
of God’s people. Revelation 5:8.
How do I begin to have faith and trust God? How do I belong to Him alone? Knowing God is Able, and He can do the
impossible, and faithfully loves and forgives us. So our faith begins. Because He IS!
impossible, and faithfully loves and forgives us. So our faith begins. Because He IS!
For
I can do everything
through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13.
This verse describes faith and trust with humility and love in our hearts. It
is learning our abilities and strengths come from God, and not in our own
power, and we fall to our knees and praise our Lord. Without Him, we are nothing. When we succeed, we praise our Lord. And we know…Because He Lives, I can face tomorrow…
I can do everything
through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13.
This verse describes faith and trust with humility and love in our hearts. It
is learning our abilities and strengths come from God, and not in our own
power, and we fall to our knees and praise our Lord. Without Him, we are nothing. When we succeed, we praise our Lord. And we know…Because He Lives, I can face tomorrow…
Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny
baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God,
who does all things. Ecclesiastes
11:5.
baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God,
who does all things. Ecclesiastes
11:5.
So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with
God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. Romans 5:11.
God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. Romans 5:11.
I pray that God,
the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then
you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13.
the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then
you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13.
I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of
course not! It is because you
believe the message you heard about Christ. Galatians 3:15.
course not! It is because you
believe the message you heard about Christ. Galatians 3:15.
All praise to God,
the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual
blessing in the heavenly realms because we
are united with Christ. Ephesians 1:3.
the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual
blessing in the heavenly realms because we
are united with Christ. Ephesians 1:3.
Because of Christ
and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. Ephesians 3:12.
and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. Ephesians 3:12.
And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham
believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even
called the friend of God. James
2:23.
believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even
called the friend of God. James
2:23.
Comments? eacombs@att.net