Because He Lives

Heather Allington

Heather writes for Sunday Song Book on behalf of the The Salvation Army Oshawa. As a lifelong member of the Army, she has loved these familiar - and some less familiar - songs for many years, and enjoys researching and writing about their origins. She is a wife, mother, grandmother and retired elementary school teacher who likes trying her hand at watercolour painting and poetry writing.

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 Saviour 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!

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 that 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 reigns!

Here’s a more contemporary song, written in 1971 by Gloria and Bill Gaither. Although it is not in the 1987 edition of the Salvation Army Song Book, happily it can now be found in the 2015 edition. As with so many other songs, troubled times gave rise to its writing. Through the 1960’s, the United States was struggling with racial tensions, and some civil rights activists had been killed. Other lives were being claimed by the Vietnam War. Many young people were becoming discouraged about life.

Many young people were becoming discouraged about life. Click To Tweet

In this atmosphere, the Gaithers also had personal health problems and were expecting another baby sooner than planned. Gloria said, “If the world is like this now, what will it be in fifteen or sixteen years for our baby? What will this child face?” As they prayed and considered the uncertainties, they latched onto the fact that our courage as Christians doesn’t come from a stable world – the world has always been unstable. They also realised that Jesus Himself was born into very cruel times, and that we go on living and raising families because of the truth of His Resurrection. Soon after the birth of their baby, Gloria and Bill wrote their song of faith and hope, which has become an often-sung, reassuring favourite of many.

we go on living and raising families because of the truth of His Resurrection Click To Tweet