BECAUSE HE LIVES

By: Dennis Harworth

  Whenever a doctor during a pre-op consultation tells you it is a high risk (of death) procedure, it tends to get one’s attention!  I had never been at this crossroads before until now.  But there was such a peace to go ahead with the procedure, so I set the appointment.  The week prior to my date in the hospital, the preparations began.  The real challenge was trying to prevent my mind from being constantly bombarded with thoughts of dying.  Although it wasn’t easy, I persistently tried to “arrest” every such thought.  I learned for the first time in my life what it really meant to be “bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).  I also had to repeatedly declare out loud and in faith, “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord” (Psalm 118:17). 

     It was comforting to know that I was not alone in this battle.  My wife spoke the Word over me and prayed a lot in the Spirit.  She also had to combat the almost overwhelming onslaught of evil thoughts.  It was a little harder on her because she had experienced the death of her late husband years before.  But the Lord used her in the one of three ways to fill both of us with peace and reassure us that everything was going to be all right.  Two days before my hospital stay, the Lord woke her up in the middle of the night and told her, very specifically, the title of the book I was going to write; and the title of all of eighteen chapters.  Since this could not be done in just one night, we both knew I was going to have to be alive and well to put all of that in writing.  (FROM MIRACLE TO MIRACLE was published as a result). 

     On the morning of the procedure, the second confirmation of peace and comfort came as I read Proverbs 29:25b.  “Whoso puts his trust in the Lord shall be safe”   It seemed to jump off the page and soothe my soul and I knew that I shall be safe.  However, the raging battle inside was not done and ferociously intensified with a steady barrage of thoughts of fear and doubt.  The barrage was finally squelched when I heard the chorus of the song, “Because He 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.

     This anointed song rose up in my spirit so much that I actually got excited about going to the hospital.  Truly, because He lives, I could face this serious situation with confidence and without fear.  The strange thing about this was the timing of it all.  Little did I realize when I set the appointment months earlier, the date would be during the week just before Easter.  This song was played and sang many times during this Easter week – just so I could hear it.  There is no such thing as a “coincidence” with God. Because this chorus was so powerful, I had to learn the story behind the song:

In the late 1960’s, while expecting their third child, Bill and Gloria Gaither were going through a rather traumatic time in their lives.  Bill was recovering his strength from a bout with mononucleosis. They, along with their church, were the objects of accusation and belittlement. Gloria was experiencing a time of torment, including fear of the future and of bringing children into such a crazy, mixed-up world.

As Gloria sat alone in a darkened living room, tormented, and fearful, the Lord sent a calm and peaceful rest to her. The power of the resurrection of Christ seemed to affirm itself in their lives once again. Gloria remembers the realization that it was LIFE conquering death in the regularity of her day. The joy seemed to overcome and take precedent over frightening human circumstances.  And the song Because He Lives came out of their personal bout with darkness.

     The story of Easter is about how Jesus suffered for our healing, died in our place for our salvation, and rose from the dead to be victorious over death, hell, and the grave.  Because of this demonstration His great love we can know that:

Because He lives, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37). We have victory over sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:57) and anything that comes against us physically, spiritually, emotionally, or financially.  For greater is He that is in us than the he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4). 

Because He lives, absolutely nothing will separate us from the love of God.  Not death or life, not angels or demons, our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, nor even the powers of hell can keep God's love away.  Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God. (Romans 8:38-39 NLT)

Because He lives, Jesus will never, ever, leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). “Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you. Don’t worry.” (Deuteronomy 31:6,8 MSG)

     Praise God the procedure was successful and I was given a clean bill of health.  I share this with you to encourage you and let you know that no matter what you are going through you can face tomorrow with all your fears gone!  For God does hold your future and your life is worth the living just:

BECAUSE HE LIVES!