April 2019 Press toward the Mark

He Lives

I serve a risen Savior; He’s in the world today.

I know that He is living, whatever men may say.

I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,

And just the time I need Him He’s always near.

He lives!  He lives!  Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.

He lives!  He lives!  Salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives?  He lives within my heart.

The singing of “He Lives” always moved me as a young Christian.  Even though I seldom hear it sung today, it continues to thrill my soul.  When the music director would slow down the chorus and finish it with a thunderous crescendo, it was electrifying.

In 1932, Alfred Henry Ackley, the author of “He Lives,” encountered two experiences in close succession.  He shared the gospel with a Jewish man who resisted his witness by saying, “Why should I worship a dead Jew?”

Soon after this, Ackley heard a liberal radio preacher announce, “You know, folks, it really doesn’t make any difference to me if Christ is risen or not.”  These two successive experiences motivated him to answer with the “He Lives” hymn.

Easter season is the season of celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  He died to pay the penalty for our sins.  He rose from the dead to conquer death and the grave.  Every Sunday is a celebration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: His death, burial, and resurrection.  Praise God we can sing “He Lives” every Easter, every Sunday, every day, every hour, as much as we like. 

Mission Ohio is the cooperative effort of Southern Baptists to proclaim “He Lives” to the 7th most populated state in the union.  We are seeking to reach at least 1,000,000 believers in 2,020 congregations by the end of 2020.

The Cooperative Mission Program of Southern Baptists supports Mission Ohio and over 8,000 missionaries around the world.  Southern Baptists observed Cooperative Mission Program Day April 7, 2019.  Thank you so very much to the churches who featured this during the April 7 services.  Your missionaries around the world thank you as well.  Churches can still feature Cooperative Program day any Sunday of the year.  Resources are available from the SBC Executive Committee.  You may order these by phone 1 866 722 5433 or mail 901 Commerce Street Nashville, TN 37203.

Southern Baptists are missionary people because of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.  “He Lives” is the reason for everything: who we are and what we do.  To hear Him say “Well done” in obedience to His Great Commission is the desire of our hearts.  Let’s press toward that mark.