Because He Lives...!

Hadn’t Chris mentioned it that day, I’d never know anything about the story behind the song “Because He lives.” This song has always been my favourite song of hope and assurance that He is all I need to face each day. Though written in the sixties, this song has seen generations singing it with the same flame as when written.

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 there is to prove my savior lives

Because he lives, I can face tomorrow

Because he live, all fear is gone

Because I know, he holds my future

And life is worth the living just because he lives.

How sweet to hold, a new born baby

And feel the pride and joy he gives

But greater stI’ll 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 light of glory and then I’ll know he lives

The songwriter Gloria Gaither and her husband Bill were going through a tough situation in the sixties. Bill was getting better from bouts with mononucleosis, their church (including them) were going through a stage of marginalization and accusations from the society, the existential ideology was prominent in the time and thus the declarations that God was dead took control of the American culture and educational systems, Gloria was undergoing a time of torment and fear of bringing up children in such a crazy world- all when they were expecting their third baby.

On new year’s eve as she sat alone in a dark room, thinking about everything that they had been going through, the Lord gave her a peace. The power of resurrection evoked in her an assurance that life conquers over death in the regularity of her day. This realization brought to her joy which helped her to fight over human circumstances.

The chorus of the song is so powerful that whenever I sing it there are goosebumps all over my body. In this word full of evil our lives are worth the living just because He lives. Amen!