The Night has passed and I am forlorn; But I awoke and found He is Alive!

The Night has passed and I am forlorn; But I awoke and found He is Alive!

They took his body from the tree of life, so we called it after he rose.  Into a tomb that was not his own they placed his lifeless body with care and compunction.  

All through the night did I dream of the days we shared with him our Savior who promised so much if we would only believe.  

But now, I mean this very moment, as I lie in fear not for myself but his lifeless body.  The words he spoke that he would rise seemed to be like smoke that goes nowhere.  Where is he, my senseless mind asks; where is the joy that he lost as men crucified him.  

I dreamed of standing with him as we laughed and cried from his assurance that he would always be with us, but as I stood before him dressed as his disciple, I could not hold back the tears of sadness knowing deep down he would leave me forever.

Would I ever awaken as the visions of my own choice to follow him seemed to threaten my faith that he instilled within my soul?  What is ahead for me and others who do believe?

Waking up I thought of the dream that confronted me all through the night.  Then I heard it, shouts of fear, No, an announcement that my Lord has risen, just as he said!  Jesus Christ, my Lord, God, is alive and will die no more.  This is Easter, a word that will live in the hearts of men throughout Eternity.

Ralph B. Hathaway