Making Sense out of Charlie Kirk’s Tragic Death
written by Pastor Bob Vradenburgh
Facing Life’s Hard Questions
We invite you to find us at Friendship and hear God’s perspective on death, tragedy, sin, and malice from the Bible.
- Why does God allow good people to suffer and die at the hands of evil-doers?
- What possible good could come from it?
- What is God up to?
- Can a murderer be forgiven?
- Why was Charlie Kirk so bold in the face of danger and death?
A Heartfelt Loss
Here at Friendship Baptist Church, our hearts are breaking and interceding for the sweet family of Charlie Kirk, whose earthly life of thirty-one years was snuffed out a few days ago.
We are comforted in knowing that he was a true child of God and is right now beholding in Heaven the face of the Christ he loved and proclaimed so unashamedly.
I gave my life to the Lord in the fifth grade at Christian Heritage Academy in the suburbs of Chicago. It really was a series of teachers, and this is the importance of biblical and Christian education. At a very young age I was introduced to the gospel. But around fifth grade it was really presented that I am a sinner, there’s nothing I can do to earn eternal life, and I accepted Jesus Christ to be the Chairman of the Board of my life, and [that was] the most important decision I’ve ever made.
– Charlie Kirk
A Life Well Spent
Charlie Kirk joins the ranks of a number of outstanding Christians who did not live past their early thirties–
- David Brainerd
- Henry Martyn
- Robert Murray McCheyne
- William Borden
- and others…
They could say with their Savior, “I have finished the work that God gave me to do.”
Their lives were unbelievably full!
It is not how long we burn–but how brightly–that really counts!
No Fear in Death
As believers, we do not need to fear death.
No guilt in life, no fear in death: this is the power of Christ in me.
From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny.
“In Christ Alone” Keith Getty and Stuart Townend
Charlie himself said:
“All death can do to the believer is deliver him to Jesus.”
Though shocked and outraged at the depravity that took his life, we do not have to be filled with bitterness and hate.
Love always wins—an assassin’s bullet cannot change that.
Forgiving Love
Charlie Kirk loved people–even those with whom he sharply disagreed–because he knew so well how much Christ loved him, an unworthy sinner.
There will be people in Heaven because Charlie died in such a Christlike way–forgiving sinners.
What about you?
Do you know that you have been forgiven of all your sins?
Living in Light of Eternity
So, as we’ve been told repeatedly for the last few days…
Let’s turn off our phones for a few minutes and hug more tightly our spouse and kids.
But even more importantly,
Let’s draw near to Jesus!
He alone, through death, has triumphed over death (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).
“Therefore, we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us” (Romans 8:37).