What a memorable, never to be forgotten month has just past!

The news and social media has been dominated by the assassination/martyrdom and now the legacy of Charlie Kirk since that terrible day on September 10th.

I had been watching and listening to him with prayerful interest for some years now and when the news came about his brutal murder my heart was deeply saddened. I never met him or knew him personally, and yet it all felt so personal to me as it did to many Christians worldwide. I had a deep sense of grief as if a personal loved one had been taken suddenly. How could this be?

It is because he was a brother in Christ, part of the family of God and body of Christ. And what effects one member of the body has an effect on all members. Little did we all know back then how much impact his passing would have worldwide!

This young man answered to the call of God to present an upcoming generation with the freedom to seek and to speak for the truth which challenged the direct opposite of what they had been indoctrinated with for far too long.

He was considered by some to be a conservative activist, but the heart of his mission was to faithfully present Christ and the Gospel message wherever he was given an audience. And that meant taking Christ into the political arena! He was used by God to influence many young voters who made use of their right and voted for President Trump to be the 47th President of the United States of America.

Charlie’s Biblical and common sense stance was either greatly loved or hated by those who heard him in person or watched his videos. He frequently got into discussions about faith during college campus debates and welcomed the opportunity for dialogue. Controversial topics were often discussed, such as abortion, the transgender movement, same sex marriage etc.

He showed his challengers from the Bible and godly common sense the proper way to think about these and other issues, and always used the occasion to present the Gospel message. He frequently invited his listeners to come in repentance and trust in God’s beloved Son who loved them and gave Himself for them. (See Galatians 2: 20).

He had earlier answered to the call of God upon his soul: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? …” And as when that call came to the young prophet Isaiah, he replied: “Here am I; send me”, so did Charlie! (See Isaiah 6: 8).

There followed a tremendous work that influenced millions of people in the few years that he had from the time he started his venture at the young age of 18, continuing faithfully and tirelessly until his untimely death at the age of 31.

He was the founder and CEO of ‘Turning Point USA’, which is is an ‘American nonprofit organisation that advocates for conservative politics on high school, college, and university campuses.’ (Wikipedia.)

Although he was an advocate for conservative values, he was a true modern day Evangelist who strongly felt that we as Christians have the right and obligation to stand fearless for what is good and right; to be able to stand free and firmly on the good old fashioned Biblical principles that God intended for individuals, families, neighbourhoods, and nations.

He probably accomplished more in those thirteen years than what most of us have done in a lifetime.

When he was asked "If you could be associated with one thing, how would you want to be remembered?" he replied:

I believe that this is the banner over his short life well lived. And to prove this, at his memorial service at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, the thousands of people who attended and those who took part were there to celebrate his life as a faithful Christian who was martyred for his faith.

There was no doubt that the life and work of Charlie Kirk was God’s doing, because the work continues even though the man is no longer here! However, this is not a work that is merely continuing, but it is a work that has multiplied exponentially!

Countless people from all walks of life have either been challenged about their condition before God, and humbled themselves trusting in the Lord Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour, or have reevaluated and rededicated their lives to the living God. Others have been soul stirred and emboldened to make a stand for the Lord Jesus and the truth, when they were hesitant, lacking the confidence they now have. And TP USA has grown far beyond all expectations and has by far exceeded 60,000 chapter applications, including many applications from places of further education beyond the United States!

It is my earnest prayer that this is not something that will fizzle out in the passing of time, but will continue to grow in momentum.

** Here is an interesting observation … Charlie was shot and went to heaven instantly at 12:24. And somebody observed that if we turn to John’s Gospel ch.12: 24 this is what we read:

These are the words of the Lord Jesus who spoke of His own impending death that He was going to accomplish, and the outcome of it. I believe those words can be applied in Charlie’s case, and in the case of a myriad of men and women in the past who have died for their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ who gave His life to atone for our sin. It has been often said that “When you kill a tyrant, his power ends. But when you kill a martyr, his witness multiplies.”

If we go back in time we will see over and over again that the work these precious people accomplish was amplified after their death. The blood of the martyrs has become the seeds of revival. Their deaths did not silence the message of the Gospel, but amplified it and spread it far and wide. From the first martyr in the book of Acts called Stephen, right up to this very day when Christians are still being persecuted and martyred for their faith. Their deaths are not lives wasted, but are used by God to stir more hearts to trust Him and live for Him.

The death of Charlie Kirk has not only shaken millions of God’s people, but awakened millions of sinners to trust in Charlie’s Lord and Saviour. While the mockers and haters sought to silence a courageous voice of truth, God has raised a multitude to continue where Charlie left off.

May our hearts be challenged to rise up with a holy boldness and make that stand for Jesus as faithful truth bearers. There are people all around us in desperate need of hope in this dark and troubled world. We have the message of hope they need to hear. We know the only One who can save and deliver them from impending destruction, and we can confidently and gently lead the way to Him.

May we do so faithfully and leave a legacy of our own for the honour and glory of our God and beloved Lord and Saviour. And perhaps when our work is done our departing words would express something like this …