Easter Reflections: He Lives

I was thinking about this Easter weekend and how it is one of my favorite holidays. This holiday, above all, reminds us what Christ did for each of us when He died on the cross. I was thinking about all the songs that we sing on this particular Sunday and the old Hymn He Lives was one that came to mind.  While growing up, I always loved hearing the choir in my church sing this song. I looked up this beautiful hymn to read the words.  Just stop and consider them for a moment:

I serve a risen Saviour,

He's in the world today;

I know that He is living,

Whatever men may say;

I see His hand of mercy,

I hear His voice of cheer,

And just the time I need Him

He's always near.

Chorus:

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives

today!

He walks with me and He 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.

In all the world around me

I see His loving care,

And tho my heart grows weary

I never will despair;

I know that He is leading

Thro' all the stormy blast,

The day of His appearing

Will come at last.

Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian,

Lift up your voice and sing

Eternal hallelujahs

To Jesus Christ the King!

The hope of all who seek Him,

The help of all who find,

None other is so loving,

So good and kind.

Lyrics & Music ~ Alfred H. Ackley, 1887 - 1960

The second verse is so meaningful and the hope in Christ that He knows all and His plan for our lives is perfect. Do not grow weary or be in despair for He is leading us. Amen!  The third verse states, “the hope for all who seek him” and His love is like no other. Christ Jesus lives and He loves us.

When I was reading the words from the hymnbook there was a reflection by Raymond Lindquist on what Easter meant to him and I thought it said it so beautifully:

Some years ago a newspaper editor telephoned and asked me to tell in a few words what Easter means to me. My testimony was this: Easter means Christ to me. It means Christ in His Kingly Splendor, Christ in His serene glory, Christ in His gracious condescension. This is because Easter is the return of Christ from inflicted violence, from induced death, from imprisonment in a tomb. Easter is Christ triumphant over all that sin and death and man could do to Him. Easter means Christ.

And where Christ goes, drama goes. For it is impossible to look anywhere in the Gospels and fail to find something powerful happening. This is because Christ is Himself the Gospel and He is life, abundant life, and His life means action, pilgrimage, arrival.

         Easter means Life. Christ defeated death in order that life in Him might always live. And it is life that we want, life in Christ. Whether we put it in words or not, our constant thought is “ Life, more life, always more and more Life.” We want life in ourselves, in our loved ones, in our friends, the kind of life that cannot be diminished, the kind of life that always expands. Easter is Christ’s victory over all that would restrict, deny and strangle life. “For to me to live is Christ.” That is Easter.

            For all who read this, my prayer is that you know that Christ Jesus died for you.  But more than that, He is no longer dead, He is alive and loves you dearly. I pray that you feel His tug on your heart to accept His love and accept Him into your life that you may live with Him for eternity.

Acts 16:31 “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”

1John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.”

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