It was the song that always brought memories of Tonia for someone sang it beautifully at church shortly after Tonia’s death. The one who sang had changed the words of the second verse and they spoke of the infant daughter she was able to hold in her arms, the one she had recently birthed. And with my own arms empty, I grieved as she sang, How sweet to hold our newborn baby, and feel the pride and joy she gives..... The words allowed me to feel the depth of my hurt, my pain, my loss, but then she sang the 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! I was now challenged to find the living hope she held before me. I knew the hope was there. I knew somehow, some way, God would bring it, and I longed to hold it in my heart to know the love, the healing, the assurance, the certainty of an eternal future with both my child and the Jesus who could make it all possible.
But today was a different morning, and yes, my heart was drawn to Tonia, still mindful of an emptiness that will only be filled in eternity, but warmed too by the truths that have enabled my journey just because He lives. And yet, on this different morning, my heart was very mindful of another child, one who also needed to know that life is worth living and he can face uncertain days because Jesus takes the fear and Jesus holds the future. And not only did a child need to know, but so too did each of us who love and care for him. Yes, in the “now” he was struggling, but his tomorrows, and ours, are held in the hands of the One who gave him life to start with – a life of purpose and meaning, a life that could bring pride and joy, a life worth living just because He lives.
Our fears can change, and they do. But our God never changes. Whatever our tomorrows hold, or even our todays, God will be there, and He holds it all in His hands and wraps it all in the warmth of His love. And on this different morning, God also did what He so often does, and He warmed me too with the hug and the understanding of a friend. God likes to do that. To give us Himself-with-skin-on, to give reality to His promises. Promises for our tomorrows and even our todays – void perhaps of the dreams, the hopes, the wants and expectations we had longed for – but promises of our unchanging God. Precious, precious sister in Christ, the promises are yours, my God is your God, and prayerfully too, you will know Him with skin on. 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 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!
– Bill & Gloria Gaither
– Bev
(Related Bible reading: Ephesians 3:16-19;
Psalm 34:4-8,17-19)
