He Lives

He Is Alive

 

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead . . . . . . . .(1 Corinthians 15:19-20)

 

 Jesus has been crucified, his body taken from the cross and laid in a sepulchre that is tightly sealed with a stone (Mk. 15:46-47). With high hopes and dreams, the disciples of Jesus had given their hearts, souls and minds to him. Up to a few days ago everything was going well but now they have watched as Jesus was crucified and his body placed in that sepulchre. Now his disciples are miserable and gather together mourning and weeping (Mk. 16:10). Suddenly, Mary Magdalene appears telling them that Jesus is alive, she has seen him. The mourning and weeping will now be replaced with joy.

 

As I sit here today, these words from a beautiful song echo within my heart: "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." We don't have any inkling of an idea what lies just around the corner in front of us. It may be good but it also may not be good. Thanks be to God, we don't have to be fearful of the next moment (Isa. 12:2-3); Heb. 4:14-16; John 14:1-3, 27; Phil. 4:6-7; Heb. 13:5; Rom. 8:35-39).

 

So long as we obey him and him only, so long as we love him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, ever trusting and confiding in him, his faithful love will surround us with tender care and, not in a literal sense, by faith he will whisper to us, "You are not alone" (Mark 12:30; Psalm 62:8; Heb. 13:5-6). We are greatly blessed with the privilege of walking each day of our life with him as our friend, our companion and protector always instructing and safely guiding us whatever betides us (John 15:14; Psalm 145:18-20; Psalm 46:1; Psalm 119:105; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).We know that he holds the future in his hands and with confidence we can face each day knowing we have the touch of the Master's hand on our heart.

 

I can think of no better way to end this thought than by the words written by A.H. Ackley in the song, He Lives: "He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way. He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart."

 

Charles Hicks

 

No Place Like Home

No Place Like Home

 

We are confident, I say, and willing to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him (2 Cor. 5:8-9).

 

As I think about this passage from 2 Corinthians 5, some beautiful words from the song, Anywhere Is Home, begin fill my heart: "Oft I'm tossed about and driven by the foe, Sad within without wherever I may go, But  I press along still looking up in prayer, For its home sweet home if Christ my Lord is there." Long ago I came to the conclusion that wherever you go, whatever you do, there just is no place like the comfort and peace of a home filled with the faithful love of Christ. As much as this is true in the temporal realm, I, for one, believe to be absent from this body and be present with the Lord is far greater.

 

I love this life and want to stay here for as long as possible. Yet I know that this world is not my permanent dwelling place and neither is it yours (Phil. 3:20; 1 Pet. 2:11). With all our being we should be reaching forth to that which lies in front of us knowing that with the passing of each day, yea even the passing of each minute of each day, we are brought  one step closer to shedding these earthly bonds (Phil. 3:13-14). Yes, I do love this life and want to stay here a little longer, yet there is within my heart a longing for that day when I will shed these earthly bonds and be present with the Lord. What do you say about yourself?

 

Life as we know it is so uncertain. Job tells us it is of few days as well as like a swift ship (Job 14:1, 9:26); Isaiah compares life to a thread soon to be cut Isa.:38:12); 2 Sam. 14:14 tells us life is like water spilled on the ground which cannot be gathered up again and James tells us that our life is like a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away (James 4:14-15). Psalms 90:9-10 is a great summation of life: "For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our days as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off and we fly away."

 

As we journey through this earthly life, I pray that for each of us it will be one in which happiness, contentment, prosperity, reasonably good health, comfort and peace of mind will far outweigh the adverse conditions that will surely strike our human frame from time to time. But most of all I pray that when we take that journey from which we will not return, it will be well with our eternal soul on that great appointed judgement day. O, how I want one day to stand in the presence of the Lord and proclaim, Home, Home at last! How about you?

 

Charles Hicks