As the sun began to send forth its pink and orange tendrils that Easter morning, I found myself being drawn outside for a walk in the sunrise. It was a glorious morning. There was just enough wind to stir the air. The birds raised their voices in songs of praise as they flitted about, hunting for worms and dancing in the sky. The trees and bushes were in full bud, and the bulbs brightened the world with their vibrant colours.
In all, it was pretty hard to believe that there was so much sorrow and suffering, not only in the world at large, and also at our own backdoors. Yet we all know there is… Oh God, with all the pain, how can it be such a glorious morning? How can life just go on? How can…we…go on?
As I contemplated this, the words to a long-forgotten song, written by Gloria and William J. Gaither, came vividly to my mind:
“Because He lives, I can face tomorrow! Because He lives, All fear is gone. Because I know, Who holds tomorrow, this life is worth a living just because He lives!” (See full lyrics below)
Because He lives. Isn’t that what we were about to celebrate on that bright and beautiful Resurrection morning? I can go on because He lives! I can face “tomorrow” because:
a. He conquered sin: “‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:55-57 NIV);
b. He reconciled us to the Father: “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” (2 Cor. 5:18-19 NIV); and
c. He rose from the dead: “In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!'” (Luke 24:5,6a NIV).
But how can we face tomorrow when tomorrow holds so much pain?
We can face tomorrow because:
a. The Lord is our helper: “So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?'” (Heb. 13:6 NIV. See also Ps. 118:6);
b. The Lord has promised to fight for us: “Do not be afraid of them; the LORD your God himself will fight for you.” (Deut. 3:22 NIV);
c. There is no room for fear with a God who loves us so perfectly:“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear…” (1 John 4:18a NIV);
d. God holds the future in His hands: “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.'” (Is. 46:10 NIV)!
It doesn’t matter whether we are being held in the grasp of cancer. It doesn’t matter that the marriage is over. It doesn’t matter that the basement is flooded or there are serious heart problems. Not only can we can face tomorrow, but this life is worth the living, and all — because He lives!
In the face of your circumstances this Easter season, I urge each of you to do the following:
1. Take a few moments to contemplate what Jesus accomplished in His death and resurrection;
2. Take another moment to listen to the birds and look at the budding trees and the brilliant bulbs; and then
3. Walk forward in confidence that because He lives, you can face tomorrow!
“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.
“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.” Gloria and William Gaither
God bless each of you this gloridous resurrection season.
In His love,
Lyn
Lynona Gordon Chaffart, Speech-Language Pathologist, mother of two, Author — “Aboard God’s Train — A Journey With God Through the Valley of Cancer”, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet newsletter, andScriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian devotionals and inspirational poems, withAnswers2Prayer Ministries. Follow Lyn on Twitter @lynchaffart.