Because He Lives
By Joe Caruso Stories
At church a few weeks ago, we sang an old song I hadn’t heard in many years. It was, “Because He Lives,” written by Bill and Gloria Gather in 1971. If you’ve been a Christian for a long time, I’m sure you remember it. The chorus is simple yet powerful.
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!
The song was written after a time of personal and social hardships for the Gathers. Gloria, was soon to give birth to their third child, while Bill was recovering from an illness. Throughout the country drug abuse and racial tensions were on the rise, there had been political assassinations and the country was deeply divided over the tensions of the Vietnam War.
Gloria was extremely anxious at the thought of bringing another child into the world with a backdrop of such uncertainty. Through prayer and reflection, Gloria was able to find peace by remembering that her future depended on Jesus, her risen saviour, and not the uncertainty she saw all around her. It was after this time of reflection that the lyrics to “Because He Lives” were born.
The song was inspired by Jesus’ words in John 14:19. Just before the Passover Festival, Jesus had been discussing with his disciples the events that would soon lead to his crucifixion. He was encouraging them to have faith and not be afraid.
The disciples were concerned about the uncertainty of the events to come and the details Jesus had explained to them regarding his coming death. They couldn’t understand the magnitude of all Jesus was saying to them.
“Who will betray you?” Asked John.
“Where are you going?” Questioned Peter.
“If we don’t know where you are going, how can we know the way?” Exclaimed Thomas.
The disciples, after spending more than three years by Jesus’ side couldn’t imagine living without him. They saw blind eyes open, multitudes fed, and even the dead raised to life. What would become of them in Jesus’ absence?
That evening Jesus was arrested and taken away, where he would later be tried as a common criminal and crucified. The disciples felt abandoned. The uncertainty of the time was too much for them to bear. In fear, they fled.
It wasn’t until three days after Jesus’s crucifixion that the disciples realized they wouldn’t be abandoned after all. When the disciples discovered Jesus’ empty tomb they began to understand what he was explaining to them just a few days before. Jesus had defeated sin and death and was alive! Like Gloria Gather, the disciples had regained their faith, knowing that because Jesus lives they can face tomorrow.
If you’re struggling through uncertainty, Jesus wants to remind you that, through his resurrection, he has overcome the world. We aren’t at the mercy of life’s events, regardless of how difficult they may be. We serve the King of kings. Jesus wants us to put our trust in him because he lives. Just like Gloria Gather and the disciples discovered, we can have the joy and peace that only comes from knowing our risen saviour. He is our hope for tomorrow.
Here are a few inspiring Bible verses to remind us we aren’t alone and because Jesus lives, we also will live.
You Are Not Alone, Jesus Is With You
Psalm 145:18
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
Hebrews 13:5b
Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.
Revelation 3:20
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
There Is Hope Because He Lives
1 Peter 1:3
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Romans 6:9
For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.
Romans 8:11
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
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