Coming out of the 1960’s and into the 1970’s our country was going through some great turmoil with the height of the drug culture and the peak of the Vietnam War. The whole “God is Dead” theory was running wild in our country. It was not the best of times. In those days a couple in Indiana gave birth to their third child – their first boy. His coming brought concern along with celebration. In fact they thought “This is really a poor time to bring a child into the world”. Yet there was an underlying peace in their hearts. Why? Well, they could say with courage “Because Christ lives we can face tomorrow”. And so in 1971 Bill and Gloria Gather were used of the Lord to give to the world that great song “Because He Lives”. It was one of the many songs Carmel liked.
Verse 1 says:
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.
We just weren’t ready for George’s quick and tragic exit from us. When Sylvia called me on Sunday evening about his accident it was such a shock that I got many of the details wrong in my mind and passed on false information. It was such an unexpected turn of events.
I’m not excited about giving George up. Oh how special he and Denise have been to Lucy and I over our 10 ½ years here in China Grove. My mind is filled with sweet memories of him. How is it for you?
• George was always the school teacher. He was already retired by the time we came here but he would constantly be quizzing me about something, seeking to enlarge my understanding. When Lucy and I visited his mountain home on a few occasions he would give me a lesson on Christmas trees, on Denise’s flower garden, or on mountain life in general. He cared about my continual education.
• Goerge was totally against alcohol yet he and Denise collected shot glasses during their travels and even had others bringing him ones he didn’t have. Kids of all ages, including this big-size kid, have been interested in his rock collection.
• Every time a new state or national park quarter came out – and most recently every presidential dollar – he would give us one – often before they were out in circulation.
• When he was finished with his copy of Garden Gate magazine he’d passed his copy on to Lucy. Just recently he informed Lucy that it was her time to renew the magazine and then pass it on to him.
• While we were at our previous house Goerge brought over his tiller for Lucy’s garden. He informed me that I was to use it first – speaking of first, it was the first and last time I have had a tiller in my hands. He just laughed as I tried to control that shaking machine. Again, George, the teacher, was seeking to broaden my experiences.
• Most every Sunday George would ask me if I was ready to preach. When I assured him I was, he would always say, "Have a good run".
• George cared about Lucy and I. He sought to enrich our lives and we will always hold him dear to our hearts.
No, we were not prepared for his exit from this life…but George was prepared to go. Because God sent His Son to die for him and because George had trusted his life to God through Jesus Christ, he was ready whenever the Lord decided to take him home.
The fact of the matter is, this time will come for us too. We may have plenty of time to get ready and then again death may not give us any warning at all like what happened to George when he fell down a flight of stairs. Will you be ready? Have you made sure your relationship is right with the One whose empty grave is there to prove your Savior lives?
Verse 2 states:
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.
George was proud of his family. Often he would speak of each of you, sometimes asking for specific prayer for situations you were facing. I do remember once him remarking to me in the last year how he was praying hard for Jeff and family because this wasn’t a good time to be raising a child. Now that is 40 years after Bill and Gloria had the same thoughts. Like them George knew that even if times are getting worse we have a God who is alive and can help us face uncertain days.
One of the things I admired about this friend of mine was how organized he was. Denise told me just the other day that George had 604 ball caps that he had collected and had them all catalogued. Have you seen the USA map that George and Denise have on the wall in their den? It has a pin in every place they have visited over the years. There must be 200+ pins sticking out of that old map. They have been in every state except North Dakota and Alaska. George was a person of adventure and wanted to have everything under control and in its place. Now life is an adventure for each of us, but it is certainly not something we can always control. Not everything seems to fit together. The dark valley of his death will bring a sense of uncertainty – there will be many difficult moments. Yet I hope like George in the midst of all that you will face, you will make sure that at least your faith is in the right place and that you will be looking toward the only One who can bring calm assurance.
Verse 3 declares:
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 reigns.
On Sunday evening God took George across that river. He has fought his last battle with pain. He is finished with earthly living. Because Jesus lives, George is seeing the lights of glory this morning.
God will see you through as well, Denise. As the psalmist David reminds us in Psalm 23, you will not have to fear as you walk through this valley of the shadow of death for God will be with you all the way. The One who has seen you and the family through these last 3 days will enable you to move on with your life and ministry for the Lord. Only because He, Jesus Christ, lives can we see death swallowed up in victory. Because Christ lives we can know where George is at this very moment – with His resurrected Savior in glory. Let death give way to victory as you look to the One who is Life.
That chorus rings out such a message for us:
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.
Because Jesus lives we can more easily let go of George. For our friend, life on this earth has ended and real life has begun. For us, we must continue on until this time comes for us. The good news is that life is worth the living because He lives.
• Jesus stepping out of the grave after He had given His life for us – That’s Amazing!
• George – you and I – being forgiven of every sin and being placed in God’s family through our
repentance and placing our faith in Jesus – That too is Amazing!
• George being transported to heaven immediately upon death on Sunday evening – Truly Amazing!
• Denise and family being able to get up from this awful turn of events and experience victory – So, so Amazing!
Need I remind you – it is all because He lives – it is all because of God’s amazing grace!
