Remembering Charlie!
Yesterday afternoon about 2:15 pm, I heard that Charlie Kirk had been shot while speaking to young people at a university in Utah. I was distraught and offered up prayers as I know many did. When the news came that he died, I cried out, “No!!!”
I didn’t know him well nor follow him, but I knew of him and knew he was a force to reckon with as he stood firmly on his convictions.
As an eighteen-year-old pup, he would set up a table at a university or college challenging students to debate issues with a sign saying, “Prove me wrong.”
That takes guts!
He started Turning Points USA as a teenager in his parent’s garage. According to some, he was a bit brash but sometime in his journey he became convinced of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He brought truth to the public square. He stood on the solid Rock and did not flinch.
He married a beautiful young lady and brought two young children into the world.
And as happens to all young men who take this responsibility seriously, it matured him and brought a deeper dimension to his life.
He was a voice of reason in a chaotic world. He said things much more eloquently than I ever could and I was angry that his life was cut short. Not at God, but at those who stir up hatred that leads to violence.
It made me angry. I had to ask God to guard my heart and keep me from runaway emotions.
I needed time to process.
I read various posts and articles to learn more about him, his family and his mission. A few hours before the shooting, his wife had posted a photo of them and quoted Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” No doubt these very words are ministering to her right now!!!
God has a way of preparing our hearts.
After giving time to work through some emotions, I knew it was time to reign them in. It was time to sit at the feet of Jesus.
Why would I be surprised?
We are at war and, yes, for the time being it seems the Evil One has the upper hand. It makes me angry. But didn’t Jesus tell His followers, if you follow Me the world will hate you as it hates Me. According to tradition all the disciples died a martyr except for John who was exiled.
What we see throughout the Scriptures is a God who sees. He is well aware of what is going on down here. He cares about justice and works out His plan in spite of the wickedness of man!!!
Does He not show us this in the very first book?
The Scriptures remind us that we need not fret over evil doers. What God is doing is much bigger than what happens today!!! And as we were reminded in Sunday’s sermon…when we don’t understand God’s ways, we trust His character!!
God has His reasons which He does not always explain. But He is good and is working all things together for good.
He will bring justice, and we must leave it in His hands. We must also remember the purpose of government and pray for leaders to restrain evil so we may live a quiet and peaceable life.
In the meantime, I am praying that God will raise up faithful men and women who will serve Him boldly at home and in the public square.
This is my prayer that the church of God would rise up as lions with the heart of the Lamb!!
Thought I would share Lauren Daigle’s challenge to RISE UP in her song “He’s Still Rolling Stones.”
Photos of Charlie and his family with a link below to Lauren’s song. Enjoy
