Easter Sunday, March 5, 2015 – To a Christian, Easter Sunday is everything. It is the day we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Unlike most other “holidays” it is one that Christians observe every day of the year. It is the anchoring message in the Christian faith. All Christians, regardless of their denomination, believe that Christ rose from the dead and lives in Heaven with his and our father, God. I don’t think that believe is even a strong enough word – WE KNOW IT to be true!
My favorite hymn Because He Lives (not the new contemporary version) explains my feelings about the resurrection perfectly. Jesus Christ died on the cross, was buried in a tomb, yet he arose from the grave and lives today. The words of the chorus read:
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 verses say as much to my heart as the chorus does. The words to each verse are:
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!
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 days 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 the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives!
Some of ya’ll who have read my blog for a while have read these words before. and know this to be the song that touches my heart the deepest. Lots of ya’ll who are Christians know this song well and probably have related its words to something in your life of great meaning. I absolutely want it sung at my funeral because on that day I will have crossed the river and be in the glorious presence of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As I get older, that thought becomes more and more inviting.
Ya’ll have a blessed Easter. Remember, HE IS RISEN, HE IS RISEN INDEED!
BECAUSE HE LIVES 