He Lives!

He Lives!

Alfred Ackley was a preacher who had some extraordinary talents. He was a great speaker who also had a musical background. In fact, his brother was an accomplished hymn writer. Both were trained in music by their father before going off to study music at higher levels.

As a preacher, Alfred could often be found sharing the Word of God at revivals, in addition to his regular pulpit ministries. It was at one of these tent meetings that he was confronted by a young man who struggled with the idea of believing in Jesus.

“Why should I worship a dead Jew?” he asked.

The question startled Alfred. It prompted him to respond in the way he knew best. He began to explain how we can know that Jesus still lives. He challenged the young student with this answer:

“He lives! I tell you, He is not dead, but lives here and now! Jesus Christ is more alive today than ever before. I can prove it by my own experience, as well as the testimony of countless thousands.”

Alfred knew the elements of a good hymn when he saw them. He went home and worked through the lyrics until he had a poem that he was sure would be something special.

The result speaks for itself. Alfred took his spontaneous response and composed it into the wildly popular hymn, “He Lives.” His hymn is now an Easter morning favorite in tens of thousands of churches around the globe. Written at a time when dogma and doctrine ruled the world of hymns, it is a song that proudly proclaims feelings and experience over the theology of books and debates.

It asks, and answers, the question we all long for, “You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.”

(Lyrics are posted below)