Because He Lives

Twenty years ago tomorrow, I sat down in my Freshman Calculus class in my rural, Western New York, Christian College completely oblivious to the terror and fear facing people in New York City (NYC).  My professor started class by saying due to the events of that morning, we would be having a prayer time and people were free to leave if they so wished.  My Tuesday & Thursday schedule allowed me some time to sleep in and have a later start to my day.  This was my first class and I hadn’t really been anywhere or talked to anyone before class.  I had no idea what was going on.  I asked someone next to me what we were praying for and they said there was a plane crash in NYC.  A little later on, talking to another student they said something about an attack.  About halfway through that class someone came in to report that the first tower had fallen.  I didn’t know how to process this information.  My life was, up to that point, a pretty safe bubble.  There was so much uncertainty, so much unknown.  Who was attacking?  Why were they attacking?  Were we in trouble?  All those air-raid drills from elementary school came rushing back; should we get under a desk?  I started to realize that getting under a desk when someone was bombing was probably the equivalent of pulling the covers up over your head to save you from the monster under your bed.  I felt so out of control, and came to realize that I really never had any control.  So what would I do?  I would put my trust in God and wait to see what happened.

My faith was challenged September 11, 2001.  I watched people faced with only two options, burning to death or jumping to their death and questioned what I would do in that situation.  What was the right decision?  I claimed I believed God was sovereign over everything, but I  found myself needing the reminder daily.  For the next few weeks, the song “God is in Control” (sung by Twila Paris) ran through my head on repeat.  I needed to tell myself that God had not forsaken his people.  God was allowing these events to take place as part of the bigger story of this world.  This was part of His plan to redeem His people.  I still don’t know exactly why God allowed that attack to unfold.  I don’t know all of the stories of people affected by those events.  I still don’t know the answers to most of the questions I struggled with on that day.  I do still have faith that God is in sovereign control of this entire universe.  I don’t understand why things happen, but I know that God is allowing it to unfold according to his plan.  

Twenty years later I find myself in need of the reminder again.  This past week has brought about some historic decisions and actions in the United States.  There is a great divide in our country, several in fact.  Everyone has an opinion on how various issues should be handled, and more people are becoming outspoken about their views.  There seems to be increasing hostility towards people to view things differently.  People are developing an “us vs. them” mentality about most issues our country is facing.  People are divided over issues both medical and philosophical.  I again feel out of control and uncertain of the future.  I find myself questioning what action is right.  What should I do?

God does not give us specific “this is what you do when this happens” audible directions.  While I feel this would be handy, that is just not how God has chosen to reveal Himself to us.  However, He has given us His Word, Scripture, by which we can learn what God requires of us.  We can remember that this world is not our home.  We are just travelers passing through.  We have been tasked with sharing the Gospel, not some political agenda.  We need to focus on the bigger issue at hand; there are people who do not know Jesus.  We need to share the Gospel with everyone we know.  The Church should be seeking to build up one another to love and good works.  We should be caring for one another and seeking to use the gifts God has given us to serve others in the Church.  We are not called to sit down at a table and solve the world’s problems.  God already knows the problems, and He has already provided the solution.  We need to point people to Christ.  

People have faced uncertainty throughout every generation.  My own grandfather faced the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the beaches of Normandy.  Through every difficulty, every political change, every precarious situation, God is in control.  We can face the future knowing that God already knows what will happen.  Jesus is alive, and we have that Good News to share.  Nothing else matters “in the light of His glory and grace.”  (Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus by Helen Howarth Lemmel)  Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote the song “Because He Lives” that serves as a reminder when we are faced with the uncertainty of 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!

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 days 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!

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 victory,

I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know 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!