“Build your life around what will last,” the pastor of my church reminded the congregation this past Sunday, as he preached from the book of Acts. To be more specific, his sermon was on the martyrdom of Stephen. And all this in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s death.
What will last? The only thing about us that will truly, 100-percent-guaranteed, last is our soul. My soul, your soul, and that of Kirk’s murderer, Tyler Robinson.
I’m still in shock mode about what happened at the “Prove Me Wrong” pavilion in Utah on 9/10. I’m sure we all are. We deeply miss Charlie Kirk and his commitment to speaking the truth in boldness. Even still, we can be comforted that, in some way, “what was meant for evil, God intended for good”.
We Americans are quickly becoming desensitized. We’re numb to assassination attempts, assassinations, suicides, stabbings, shootings. The graphic details of such events are accessibly plastered all over the news, complete with all-too-clear photos and video footage. This isn’t a mere video game with fake blood splattering your screen.
As I read the threaded comments on news articles reporting on Tyler Robinson, it’s obvious that many people are eager for his death. Commentors go so far as to discuss exactly by what methods he should be put to death, and individuals agree via flippant thumbs-ups.
Now, our reaction to the murder of Charlie Kirk should be one of horror. But what I’m saddened to see is how life — any life — is spoken of so carelessly. Life should be handled more carefully than the proverbial pair of kid gloves, not like disposable gloves. Robinson’s is a soul that will live forever, and we shouldn’t take that fact flippantly.
To be clear, I am not against the death penalty for Robinson or anyone else who commits a murder. That Robinson should pay the death penalty is just. God has given authority to leaders on earth to carry out this justice.
But we as Christians also need to be ready to forgive. Erika Kirk did when she publicly announced, “That man — that young man — I forgive him” (she immediately received a standing ovation). Christ has commanded us to love. And not just to love, but to love and pray for our enemies.
So let’s send a flood of prayers to the Lord, pleading for mercy on Robinson’s soul. Pray that the young man will be convicted of his sin. Pray that he will be led to Christ. “For the Lord is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
Pray!
