This narrow way

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the “powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12.

Outside of Jesus Christ, I’ve never been so moved by the death of someone I never met. But the assassination of Charlie Kirk on a university campus in Utah this week has shaken me to my core. My emotions have run the gamut from shock and disbelief to grief to anger. And of course, the question, why? How do I make sense of something so senseless? With a few days to reflect, pray, and search the Scriptures, I’ve come to this.

Charlie Kirk wasn’t killed for his political beliefs, although that’s what the deranged lunatic who pulled the trigger thought he was doing. Charlie Kirk was killed because of his faith, his unwavering, unapologetic proclamation of Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord. Yes, Charlie was active in the political arena, but he said on many occasions that his priorities in life were God, family, country. His political opinions stemmed from his belief in the Word of God and its teachings. Every one of us is created in the image of God, life is precious and should be protected. The family was established and ordained by God, and the only answer for fallen man is a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Charlie, as did Peter and John in Acts Chapter 4, spoke boldly about “that name.” As Peter and John did when they were commanded not to speak any longer in “that name,” Charlie proclaimed by his actions and by his words that he cannot and would not stop speaking the name of Jesus Christ.

Our adversary has always been about stopping the proclamation of that name, but the Gospel of Jesus Christ marches on. The apostles were martyred for the name of their Lord. James was beheaded, Andrew was crucified, Peter was crucified upside down, John survived being boiled in oil and was exiled to the island of Patmos, where he wrote Revelation. Nothing stopped the spread of the Gospel, and nothing ever will. When the world forces of darkness, and the spiritual forces of wickedness entered into the heart of the Utah shooter, Satan thought he had silenced another voice, but all he did was raise up 10,000 more voices. Ten thousand times 10,000.

And one of those is this voice. I have let the adversary distract me from boldly proclaiming the Word of Truth as often as I should have, letting the excuses of not enough hours in the day and attention to the other activities of life get in the way of my faithfulness to God, but no more.  Charlie Kirk gave his life for the cause of serving his Lord, I can give up a few hours of sleep for my service to Him.