He Lives

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.

[Chorus]

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.

In all the world around me

  I see His loving care,

And though my heart grows weary,

  I never will despair;

I know that He is leading,

  Through all the stormy blast;

The day of His appearing

  Will come at last.

[Chorus]

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.

Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian,

  Lift up your voice and sing

Eternal hallelujahs

  To Jesus Christ the King!

The Hope of all who seek Him,

  The Help of all who find,

None other is so loving,

  So good and kind.

[Chorus]

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.

"He Lives" is a Christian hymn, otherwise known by its first line, "I Serve a Risen Savior". It was composed in 1933 by Alfred Henry Ackley (1887-1960), and remains popular today.

The hymn discusses the experience by Christians that Jesus Christ lives within their hearts. It is disliked or excluded by some conservative evangelicals, on the grounds that the appeal to experience is less reliable than the words of scripture and can lead to heresy.  I find it to be an exceptionally beautiful song with a strong message.

The hymn is sung by church members in Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, a screen adaptation of Jeanette Winterson's novel of the same name.  In the movie, Charlotte Coleman starred as Jess, a girl growing up in a Pentecostal evangelical household in Accrington, Lancashire, England in the 1970s, who comes to understand that she is a lesbian. 

Happy Easter, Everyone!