Because He Lives

Easter Sunday is the super bowl of Christianity. The Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15, "If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is our faith." If there is no resurrection, Christianity is a very expensive, manipulative, emotion-based experiment that should have never happened.

There is a song that has been a constant presence in my life, especially at Easter, written by Bill and Gloria Gaither. It is probably sung or played in thousands of congregations around the world on Easter Sunday, and it’s called, “Because He Lives.”

I was twelve years old in 1971 when they wrote the song. Bill and Gloria became friends of my dad back in the days when they were all at Anderson College. I have vivid memories as a kid of when they came to Kingsport, Tennessee on the weekends and sang the latest songs they had written.

We didn’t know what would later happen when their music became front and center on the world stage of Christian music. Concert halls and arenas would soon be packed with people eager to spend an evening in what was more a worship service than a concert. The music was inspiring. Great music. Great singers. Great orchestras. But most importantly, great words. We were listening to and singing songs of great theology. Bill and Gloria found a way for millions of us to worship with words that fully expressed not only our beliefs, but our gratitude to God for his love and kindness.

As we have just experienced Easter 2021 in what seems to be one of the most difficult times in our country and history, we have yet again gathered and been reminded:

Because he lives, I can face tomorrow.

Because he lives, all fear is gone,

Because I know, I know he holds the future,

And life is worth the living, just because he lives.

This year, “Because He Lives” is celebrating its 50th anniversary. I love this song! I love these writers. They have loved me, mentored me, employed me, and inspired me with this song for the past fifty years of my life.

The song still has an incredible impact. I remember one of my friends sending me a video they recorded on their phone of a sold-out crowd of 30,000 young people in Atlanta on New Year’s Eve singing "Because He Lives." Many of today's current contemporary artists are recording the song. The song is still played on KLOVE, SiriusXM, and all the other Christian music platforms. I have been thrilled as our own young worship leaders at Crossings use the song on Easter as well as in worship services throughout the year.

When speaking on the subject of depression, the words of this song are always offered as a reminder that even in our most dark and difficult moments, "We can face tomorrow because he lives, and because he lives all fear is gone; he holds the future, and my life is worth living because he lives." If music was a prescription for depression, this is a song that always brings encouragement, healing, and perspective.

This past week, as we celebrated Easter, many sang the words of this great hymn, not realizing it has been encouraging the weary for fifty years. Since our church is filled with people who did not grow up in church, people will often ask me after an Easter Sunday service where we found "that song." They will ask if I can send them a link to the words. There's so much I would love to tell them, but in that moment, they just need the words. And on the Monday after Easter, for as long as I can remember, I make sure these timeless words find their way to the hearts and minds of people who thought they had heard a brand new song.

Bill and Gloria later wrote a song entitled, "You Might Forget the Singer, But You Won't Forget the Song." And how true it is! For me, I will never forget Bill and Gloria, but no one will forget the song.

"... and life is worth the living just because he lives."

Amen.