Articles
Because He Lives
Because He Lives and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, Why do you seek the living one among the dead (Luke 24:1-5)?
Long ago John tells us that after Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified, he was taken to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha and there he was crucified. Taken down from the cross, His body is placed in a tomb that is then sealed with a stone. Luke tells us that early on the first day of the week, certain women came to the tomb where Jesus had been laid and found the stone rolled away. As they stood there wondering what had happened, two men in dazzling clothing asked them why they were seeking the living among the dead. Man had put Jesus, Son of God, to death But God had raised Him up to live again (Luke 24:1-8; Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-7).
My heart overflows with rejoicing and thankfulness because I know He lives. I love the song, Because He Lives, and often find myself singing, “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.”
Will we ever have heavy hearts pained deeply? Will we ever be sad and lonely? Will fear and frustration ever strike our human frame? Will we ever feel like we are in a hopeless situation? Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes—but there is no reason for us to allow ourselves to become consumed with heartache, sadness or loneliness. Because He lives we have a lifeline to hold on to as we press on toward our eternal destiny (Romans 8:22-25; Hebrews 6:17-20). “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:1-3).
Because Jesus walked out of that tomb alive, we live today with the hope and expectation of one day living forever in a land where all things are made new Hebrews 5:8-9; 1 John 3:1-3; John 14:1-3; Revelation 21:3-5). Because He lives, we don’t have to be anxious or worry about whatever circumstance surrounds us at any time (Philippians 4:6-7, 13; 1 Peter 5:6-7; Hebrews 4:13-16). There are three days that are constantly in our minds—Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow. Yesterday is gone and cannot be changed. Tomorrow has not yet come and in fact may never come. Today, as children of God we don’t have to worry about tomorrow on planet earth.(Philippians 1:21; Galatians 2:20). “Because He lives, all fear is gone, Because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.”
Charles Hicks, Hendersonville Tennessee
