Because He Lives

You might be wondering why the caption panels are empty. Well, it is quite simple actually. When I conceptualized this comic, I drew inspiration from the well-loved song Because He Lives by Bill and Gloria Gaither. It was only several days after and after I had inked and lettered the page that I realised the song was probably not in public domain, which meant they still held the copyrights. That was on Thursday. Yes, Maundy Thursday. It was too late to get permission, but I did write in. However, since I haven't gotten a reply, I decided to finish the comic and remove the text digitally, and let the reader fill in the blanks themselves. After all, most would be familiar with the lyrics of the first stanza.

I have sought as much as possible to match the lyrics with Bible imagery, except for the last panel. The final panel proved to be quite a challenge. How do you illustrate "And life is worth the living just because He lives?" I felt that it would be good to honour those who lived and died for Christ, and so I drew Fav and gang reading biographies next to his biography bookshelf. Fav is reading about Jim Elliot, who wrote the famous words, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." Jim gave his life reaching the Auca Indians of Ecuador who slew him and his fellow missionaries. His sacrifice was not in vain. The Aucas later repented and put their faith in Jesus through the ministry of the slain missionaries' wives.

Because He Lives

God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus;
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!

Chorus
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

Lyrics copyright © Bill and Gloria Gaither