When All Fear Is Gone
When health issues arise or when my dad, Fletch, is otherwise tempted to worry, he uses one of his pat expressions:
"I don't know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future."
My dad's notorious for these one-sentence lessons. I used to roll my eyes every time he'd say something "canned" or "corny" like that because I considered myself much more "sophisticated" than my father.
However as life went on, eventually, I DID start to worry about what was around the corner, and I wondered what life would look like if I honestly refused to worry about the future; if I could live a fearless life.
The answer, always, came back to the empty tomb. The events of Good Friday do nothing to ease my fears; death seemingly wins. However, that wasn't the final chapter. Instead, Sunday comes and the tomb is empty.
Suddenly, fear is gone. Death doesn't win, and that's the headline.
I recalled Dad's "I know who holds the future" expression last night during the Easter Service where my church closed with a hymn my father always belts out with gusto: Because He Lives.
The words (By Bill & Gloria Gaither) choked me up, and so I thought you might enjoy them as well.
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.
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.
If you want to see the song performed live, you can check out the entire service live at North Point Online (here) - the song is at the end as a closing.
Have a Happy Easter!