I woke up this morning with an old song on my mind; an old Gaither song called, “Because He Lives”. “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow”, is the beginning of the chorus. As I kept thinking about those words, the phrase, “cause and effect” jumped into my mind, waving its arms and hollering loud enough to keep me from falling back to sleep.
The cause and effect of the Gospel! “Because” and “Therefore”. The “cause” is why it happened, and the “effect” is what happened as a result. For example:
“So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision – the cutting away of your sinful nature. For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.” (Colossians 2:10-15 NLT)
Let’s look at this idea using a simple ’cause and effect’ format. The first line of each group will be “the cause”, the second, “the effect”.
Creator God loves fellowship, loves creating good, loves giving life.
He created everything seen and unseen, and called it “Good”.
God gave Man total authority to rule and reign on earth.
They had the authority to give it away to the Deceiver.
The Deceiver is the father of lies, rebellion, wickedness, sickness, fear, torment and death.
Man began to experience the nature of the new ‘boss’, and pass it to each subsequent generation.
God never quit loving His ‘lost’ family.
He found people who would ‘cut the covenant’ with Him.
Abraham believed and obeyed God, even to the point of offering his son as a sacrifice.
Abraham’s covenant partner, God, could offer His sinless Son as a sacrifice for Abraham’s family.
Jesus died on the cross.
He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities. The judgment upon Him was for our peace, and the stripes He bore were for our healing.
God raised Him from the dead.
We are raised with Him! Through faith in God’s answer to our need! Jesus!
I left out a lot of examples between Abraham and Jesus’ death, but I’m sure you have the idea. As you read your bible, see if you can find more examples of ’cause and effect’.
Here are some examples that thrill my soul:
He cancelled the list of sin that was on our account.
We can walk in newness of life.
He delivered us from the authority of darkness.
We can walk in the light of His love.
He openly displayed His triumph over the Deceiver.
The Deceiver actually has nothing to blackmail us with, or to hold over our head.
Jesus’ Spirit lives within the heart of the believer.
The believer is not obligated to listen to the desires and dictates of the old nature.
The fruit of the Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
As a ‘temple’ of the Holy Spirit, those things can flow from our heart.
God works within us, giving us the power and desire to do what please Him; the right thing.
We can ‘work out’ our salvation; actually do what He’s placed in our heart to do.
God resists the proud but helps the humble.
Submission to God gives power to our resisting the devil, so he flees.
Whoever calls upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved.
That’s me! Saved: delivered, made complete, a new creation, child of God, someone with a hellish past but, now, a heavenly future.
Because He lives, I can face my yesterdays, tomorrows, and even my todays.
How about you?
“Because He Lives”
(written by Bill Gaither, Gloria Gaither)
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, I know, I know He holds the future.
And life is worth the living just because He lives.
How sweet to hold a new born baby, and feel the pride and joy he gives. But greater still is that assurance the 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, I know, I know He hold the future.
And life is worth the living just because He lives.
And then one day, I’ll cross that river. I’ll fight life’s final war with pain. And then as death gives way to victory. I’ll see the light of glory and I’ll know that He lives.
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, all fear is gone.
Because I know, I know, I know He hold the future.
And life is worth the living just because He lives.
Jan Grace 