This week, our nation grieves. We grieve because a fearless voice for truth, for freedom, for faith — Charlie Kirk — was taken from us. His life was cut short. But before I get started, I want to remind you: you might be angry, you might be hurting, and you might be confused. But I want you to know that God, who is sovereign, can be trusted in the darkest of times, because Charlie truly believed that. Charlie was not afraid to stand in the fire. He was not afraid to say what was unpopular. He was not afraid to lose friends, to lose followers, even to lose his life.

His sacrifice is a reminder to every Christian in America that we are called to live a fearless life. Our lives are different because of Charlie Kirk. Each and every one of us can say our life is different because of him. The impact this man had on our country in just the last ten years cannot be measured.

A Force to Be Reckoned With

I remember the first time I ever saw him in person. I’d seen him over the last couple of years on social media as he was beginning Turning Point USA and gaining popularity. But it was at the American Embassy opening in Jerusalem, and he was just a few rows back from where I was sitting. When I told a few conservative Christian leaders that Charlie Kirk was right behind us, someone asked, “Well, who is Charlie Kirk?” Sure enough, they found out soon — because he was just a force to be reckoned with.

Charlie’s legacy goes far beyond American politics. As he became a husband to his beautiful wife, Erika, and a father to his two precious children, you saw a shift in his heart and in his message. Yes, he fought for the American people, and yes, he fought for freedoms we hold dear in this nation. But more importantly, he wanted people to know how to find freedom for their souls — because Charlie’s hope was not of this world. His hope was in Jesus Christ.

Not long ago, he said in an interview that he wanted to be remembered for his courage and his faith. And that he will be. But let me ask you: will you be remembered for your courage and your faith?

Fear Is the Enemy of Faith

I want to tell you to stop being afraid. We are all feeling the sting of death today, and we see that life is short and life is precious — and our time to share the one true message of hope, the gospel of Jesus Christ, is short. Charlie understood that fear is the enemy of our faith, because Jesus told us in John 16:33 that trouble is promised, but so is victory. Charlie lived like that was true.

He didn’t wait for the culture to applaud him. He stood even when culture mocked him. He didn’t wait for the government to give him permission. He spoke truth, and he did it with authority — because truth comes from God, not from man.

In the wake of this evil tragedy, don’t let his death silence you. Let it awaken you. Let it embolden you. Be louder. Be bolder. Be braver in your communities, in your church, in your schools, amongst your friends, and in your families.

“A Modern-Day Stephen”

Think about the early church. Think about Stephen, the first Christian martyr. He stood before the authorities. He declared the truth of Jesus Christ even as they picked up stones. And as he was dying, Scripture says his face was like the face of an angel. That’s fearless faith. Charlie was a modern-day Stephen. His life, and now his death, testify that the gospel is worth everything — not comfort, not popularity, not safety. The gospel is everything.

As we watch the news, as we scroll through social media posts, we’ll see things that are demonic, and we will burn with a righteous anger. But remember that Scripture says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Charlie set that example every single day. So the question is this: will his example stir us to action, or fade into another headline?

The Church Must Wake Up

Church, this is the time to wake up. No more compromise. No more sitting on the sidelines. No more playing it safe. Jesus said in Matthew, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Charlie understood that. Do we understand that?

This is the moment to decide. Will we be silent Christians or fearless Christians? Will we trade truth for comfort? Or will we take up our cross and follow Jesus even when it costs us everything?

Today we honor Charlie’s courage. And today we take up his mantle. His life was short, but it was full. I’ve never seen any human being work as hard as he did. His voice may be silenced, but his message echoes louder than ever.

If you believe that, and you call on the name of Jesus to forgive you for your sins, and you put your full trust in Him and surrender your life to Him, saying, “Lord, what do you want me to do with my life? My life is Yours” — He will give you a purpose. He will give you a vision, as He gave Charlie Kirk. That is what Charlie would want you to know.

Echoes of a Grandfather’s Words

I truly believe that in the days and years to come, we will miss the voice of Charlie Kirk, just as there are many days we miss the voice of my grandfather, Billy Graham, and wonder what he would say in moments like this. Today, on September 11th, I’m thinking back to my grandfather’s message, delivered from the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., just days after the evil attacks on our nation twenty-four years ago. Charlie was just a young boy at that time. But these words, more than two decades later, still ring true.