Our God, He is Alive

In 1966, Time Magazine received national attention when they came out with an issue entitled, “Is God Dead?”. As you may imagine, during that time the American public was outraged, and the response was heard all throughout the country. People wondered how they could make such an audacious claim, pulpits everywhere made note of the situation in the sermons that were presented, and Time Magazine even received 3,421 letters from its readers. Without a doubt, there were many responses given to this article that sparked great controversy, but perhaps the most notable was a response offered by a man named Aaron W. Dicus.

Today, that name may not sound all that familiar, but in the sixties, Mr. Dicus was somewhat famous. He gained prominence in the early nineteenth century for his innovative inventions, such as the automobile turn signal, the electric pencil sharpener, and the skill saw. These technological advancements coupled with his numerous degrees in the scientific realm gave Dicus a voice that people were willing to listen to. So, in the midst of this major dispute caused by the article, “Is God Dead?”, Dicus decided to respond, and he did so with a song. Defiantly and clearly Aaron W. Dicus told the world where he stood on the issue with his song, “Our God, He Is Alive.” The title itself expresses how opposed the scientist was towards the thought that God did not exist. With that in mind, let us consider three evidences Mr. Dicus lays out in his song to show the existence of God.

First, Mr. Dicus points out God creates. In the first stanza Dicus wrote, “He tinted skies with heavenly hue, And framed the worlds with His great might.” As an inventor himself, Dicus understood creation demands a creator. The electric pencil sharpener did not invent itself, Dicus did. The iPhone did not invent itself, Steve Jobs did, and in the same but much greater manner, the world did not create itself, God did. It was the psalmist who said, “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork” (Ps. 19:1). Paul said, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen” (Rom. 1:20). If you are struggling to determine whether or not God is alive, just take a look around. How foolish would it be to suggest everything that has ever been created, must have had a creator except the world itself?

Second, Mr. Dicus points out God speaks. In the second stanza Dicus penned the words, “He is the God that we should know, Who speaks from His inspired word.” Not only is creation evidence that our God is alive, His Word is evidence too. The Bible was written by forty different men, from forty different places, in forty different times, and yet there is one consistent message throughout the sixty-six books with no contradictions. The atheist and the agnostic have to honestly ask themselves how it is possible for the author of Psalm 22 to vividly describe crucifixion 400 years before it was created. How could Isaiah make dozens of prophecies about Christ only for Jesus to fulfill them 700 years later? God’s Word shows He is very much alive.

Finally, Mr. Dicus points out God loves. The last verse of the song goes like this, “Our God, whose Son upon a tree, A life was willing there to give, That He from sin might set man free, And evermore with Him could live.” An individual can deny the existence of God all they want, but there is no denying the fact Jesus of Nazareth was a real man who died on a Roman cross because of His love for mankind. Friends, the love that was expressed at the cross all those years ago speaks to God’s credibility and existence (Rom. 5:8).

So, is God dead? Mr. Dicus wanted the world to know the answer is “NO!”. God always has been, and He always will be. It is amazing what a scientists’ conclusion can be about God when they simply look at the evidence. All that being said, it may surprise you to know Aaron W. Dicus was a Christian. At the age of twenty he put on Christ in baptism, and he lived in the Lord’s service for seventy years. Perhaps the most interesting fact about brother Dicus is that no one remembers him for his inventions, but everyone remembers him for his song. What a testament that is to show what is truly important in this life (Matt. 6:33)!