April 24, 2005

Have faith in God –
The year rolls round the sun;
Have faith in God –
As days go, one by one;
Have faith in God –
Until the journey's done.
Have faith, dear friend, in God.

Christ Arose

Robert Lowry, 1826-1899 

    Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. Romans 6:8, 9.

    The hymn, Christ Arose, is a hymn of sheer drama. Robert Lowry, the author, has said, My brain is sort of a spinning machine, for there is music running through it all the time. As he read the verses above, Luke 24:6-7, he sat at his little pump organ and wrote out the words and tune to this hymn in 1862. Lowry was a Bible scholar and engaging orator who became the music editor for the Biglow Publishing Company. This hymn of his depicts a shining contrast between the moods of death and resurrection.

Low in the grave He lay - Jesus, my Savior!
Waiting the coming day - Jesus, my Lord!

Vainly they watch His bed - Jesus, my Savior!
Vainly they seal the dead - Jesus, my Lord!

Death cannot keep his prey - Jesus, my Savior!
He tore the bars away - Jesus, my Lord!

Chorus:
Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes;
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever with His saints to reign:
He arose!
He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Have Faith in God by H.M.S. Richards, Used by Permission