Brothers, Are You Ready to Die?

I felt my own death watching Charlie get shot and slump off the side of his chair. I saw my wife laying down in bed alone reaching her arm out only to find emptiness. I saw my four children searching for daddy to hold them but never being able to find him. I was gone. Life would go on for them. But I was gone.

What do I do with this kind of moment? This moment of shock, grief, pain, horror? There is only one answer. I look to the One who knows this moment more than anyone, Jesus Christ. He is the only source of hope that does not fade away, leaving me feeling worse than before. I look to the cross where He bled slowly, gasping for breath, bearing the full weight of God's wrath so sinners could be forgiven. I look to tomb where His disciples sought for His body but found it empty. I look toward heaven where He is seated triumphantly at the right hand of God the Father, from where He will come again to judge the living and the dead. He knows this moment for He is Lord of all moments. Hebrews 4:15-16 says, "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

This is our time of need. We need God's help and mercy. We must draw near to the throne of grace. Christ has made a way for us to be confident in the face of death because death could not hold Him (Acts 2:24). Do we believe this?

John 15:19 says, "you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you." Gone are the days when Christians in America would not be killed for their faith. Charlie Kirk was just murdered publicly for his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He joined the martyrs who have been slain because of the testimony which they had maintained (Rev 6:9). It was Charlie's faith in the Lord Jesus that caused him to boldly speak out against sin and injustice. It was Charlie's love for his Lord that rooted his work in the gospel of Jesus Christ to make his Savior's name greater than his own. It was in the Spirit's strength that Charlie rebuked those who would speak the lies of their father, the Devil (John 8:44, 1 John 3:8). It was Charlie's submission and obedience to the Word of God that allowed him to stand courageously against evil while enjoying the mercies of God.

God chose Charlie as his own. God has now taken Charlie from this world, answering Jesus' prayer "I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory" (John 17:24). Charlie is seeing the glory of his Lord. Charlie was ready to die.

So I ask you all, "Brothers, are you ready to die?"

God help us to be ready. God help us not be men who think we can love the world and have the love of the Father (1 John 2:15). God help us not to be men tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine (Eph 4:14). God help us not to be men who hear the Word but fall away or become unfruitful (Matt 13:21-22). Rather may God help us keep our eyes fixed upon the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ and the promise that we will worship Him forever with all those who stood firm to the end like our brother Charlie. They are willing to kill but what they intend for evil God uses for good. Let us declare together this day, "We will fight the good fight of faith for we are ready to die!"