Because He Lives

Because He Lives

March 31, 2024

I received a picture today. I immediately shared it with all my relatives and contacts on my social media page. It had already been recognized as a viral photograph. If any photo qualified to deserve to be repeated enough times to be considered viral this one most certainly does. It sends a vital and timeless message.

Simple and understated the scene speaks volumes. The mostly sepia colored photo depicts a view from inside a cave-like entrance looking back out towards the early morning sunrise. To the lower left side of the entrance one can see a partial curved stone that probably had been in front of the opening acting as a seal but was now rolled aside. Way beyond toward the horizon is a mound on which three empty crosses still stand. The message is powerful and universally recognized. Blessed Easter morn. He is risen. He is risen indeed!

Do you know the story? You should know the story. In a nutshell: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 from the Holy Bible. It is a life saving message.

Our Heavenly Father, the one true God, Jehovah, gave His only begotten Son into the world to save His creation, humans, from the evils of sin, death and Satan. He did that by sending Jesus Christ into the world as a tiny infant born of a virgin as the long awaited promised Messiah or Savior. You know the Christmas story. Wise men still seek Him.

As a grown man, true man yet still true God, Jesus traveled with His chosen disciples teaching them and anyone who would listen about God's plan of salvation. That plan meant His own death to pay for the whole world's sin. A final perfect sacrifice of a sinless man to atone for the transgressions of all sinners.

That sentence had been carried out only days before by the very people Christ came to save. Betrayed by one of His own disciples, turned over to local religious authorities and accused of blasphemy, then handed over to government officials. Even though no fault was found the sinless Son of God was mocked, beaten and nailed to a cross in our stead to die along with two criminals then laid in a borrowed tomb. But He had foretold that He would raise this temple, meaning His body, in three days and He did exactly that. On the third day women who came to embalm the body found an empty tomb instead. He had risen from the dead!

For forty days the Risen Lord walked among His followers once again showing them His wounds in His hands, feet and side. Over five hundred witnesses knew He was indeed alive once more. Many watched as He ascended into heaven above where He lives to this day as true God, a person in the Holy Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Ghost, preparing a place for us to live with Him for eternity if we believe in Him as our Savior, repent of our sins and ask His forgiveness.

Those few witnesses caused this good news message to go viral in an ancient world. Can we do the same in a high tech world? Once you know how can you not want to share this good news?

When God looks at us now He doesn't see our filthy rags of sin but instead the perfect face of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. On Judgment Day when asked why should you be allowed into heaven you need only say because of Jesus Christ who took away my sin.

Today we rejoice and sing Alleluias. Feeling blessed our sins are forgiven and hopeful of a new beginning.

Tomorrow will be another new day. Will I treat it any differently knowing my Savior has risen and lives beside me daily? Will it be business as usual. Another day of sinning. Or will I be any different because I know that my Redeemer lives. Will I be different in a week, a month, a year, forever?

Because He lives I will never die, only sleep until I am raised again on Judgment Day.

Because He lives I live in hope and assurance of a better life in the hereafter.

Because He lives I can face whatever this world sends my way knowing I am loved.

Because He lives … I pen this poem...

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Because He lives when I awake the morrow

Will I choose to live

Ready to forgive

Without any sorrow.

Because He lives my home is Heaven.

My burdens relieved

once I believed

His body for me given.

So I can make it through tonight

And gladly say

without any fright

I'll show you the Way.

You can make it all right

Everything will be okay.

Because He lives nothing could be finer.

I can dry my tears

put away my fears

And live no more a whiner.

Because He lives, came down from the cross

I don't need to be blue

I can live anew

And recover from any loss.

As for the Father and Holy Ghost

The debt is paid, to me no cost,

The Begotten Son suffered most.

Death defeated, the Devil lost

He is the Priest, He is the Host

The Spirit received at Pentecost.

Because He lives I know no strife

Since I believed

My sins relieved

I shall inherit eternal life.

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We are Christians today because untold millions of our brothers and sisters heard God's Word, came to faith, and couldn't keep the good news to themselves. They took it viral. Who told you? Whom will you tell?

If you have questions seek a Gospel-based church to help study God's Word and worship Him there. Confess your faults and failures to one another and to God Himself. Even though we justly deserve eternal punishment, for Christ's sake, He will grant mercy and forgiveness. He'll renew us and lead us that we may walk in His ways and follow His will to the glory of His holy name.

Every Sunday is a little Easter reminding us He Lives. Because He lives so too shall we.