Because He Lives...the Wayfarer 9/17/16

Because He Lives

1 Corinthians 15:19

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁹ If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

Although we have the solace and assurance of all assistance needed to continue on and endure, although we receive many blessings and joys in this life, although we are surrounded daily with the beauty and serenity of the creation that was given us to inhabit and enjoy as we serve as caretakers and dressers of this wonderful garden given us by God, our hope is not to be found in this world alone.

Titus 2:11-14

King James Version (KJV)

¹¹ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

¹² Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

¹³ Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

¹⁴ Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

It is imperative that we keep in mind the fact that our hope, our certainty, our promise, lies not in the temporal and temporary, but in the eternal and abiding LIFE that is ours only because HE lives, and our LIFE is possible only through HIS.

Because He Lives

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.

[Chorus]
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

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives,
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain day because he lives.

[Chorus]

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 vict'ry,
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know he reigns.

[Chorus]

Songwriters: MATT MAHER, JASON INGRAM, ED CASH, CHRIS TOMLIN, DANIEL CARSON, BILL GAITHER, GLORIA GAITHER

Today’s title, and the hymn from which it is taken should remind each of the mortality, the temporary nature of this vessel that conveys us to that LIFE, when the WAY is followed, and the TRUTH accepted.

It is that blessed hope that must be held in faith that Paul spoke of in his epistle to Titus that must ever remain at the forefront of the journey taken while inhabiting this fragile and temporary vessel that guides the path taken toward that final destination of LIFE given us because He lives.

This life, this world is merely a waystation, that waystation one that can be confusing, and confining to those who refuse to look beyond it to the destination at the end of the journey.

Here, we face a concept, a construct that is only partially defined by a limited mind and a body that comprises that vessel conveying that mind, conveying along with that mind and eternal soul, that concept one of time.

Ecclesiastes 3

King James Version (KJV)

3 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

² A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

³ A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

⁴ A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

⁵ A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

⁶ A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

⁷ A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

⁸ A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

⁹ What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?

¹⁰ I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

¹¹ He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

¹² I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

¹³ And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

¹⁴ I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

¹⁵ That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

¹⁶ And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.

¹⁷ I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

¹⁸ I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

¹⁹ For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.

²⁰ All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

²¹ Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

²² Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

Solomon’s question was answered by Jesus, and that answer remains one that is unquestionable, one that is answered not because He lived, but because HE LIVES!

Solomon himself concluded the book of Ecclesiastes with that very same answer:

 Ecclesiastes 12:13-14King James Version (KJV)

¹³ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

¹⁴ For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Recognition of that judgment to come is recognition of the resurrection to come as well, therefore, recognition of the resurrection must also include recognition of the judgment.

Solomon had not seen, and had only the promise of Christ Jesus, the messiah yet to live among men, his faith was in the promise not yet delivered, but one that was delivered to us.

That promise was fulfilled through the birth life, ministry, substitutional sacrifice and RESURRECTION of Jesus.

John 14:1-7

King James Version (KJV)

14 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

² In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

⁴ And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

⁵ Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

⁶ Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

⁷ If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

We have been given the Way, the Truth and the Life, not because he lived, but because HE LIVES.

Because He lives we should all be able to state as did Paul in recognition of both the resurrection and the judgment, in recognition of LIFE:

2 Timothy 1:12

King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen

CMc