Pushing Back the Darkness
Last week after my blog released, titled Don’t Let Go of the Rope, the news reported that Charlie Kirk had been shot at a rally in Utah and shortly after, died. No matter your political affiliations, Charlie Kirk was a child of God, a husband, and a father. He spoke openly about his faith and proclaimed, Jesus is Lord.
Charlie’s death stunned many Americans because Charlie was an outspoken Christian and was murdered for his beliefs. His death revealed that the persecution of Christians has entered our backyards. Evil is out there, and it wants to kill, steal, and destroy us.
Because Christians are a threat, the devil wants us to keep our lives small—to think twice before riding the subway, sending our kids to a Christian/Catholic school, and speaking out at college. He wants us to believe there are only two options: Hide in fear or get angry and sin.
God says otherwise. He says in Joshua I:9, “Be strong and courageous, do not be dismayed, for the Lord God is with us wherever we go.” God stands with us in the schools, on the subway, on campus, and in our churches. He doesn’t say that we won’t face trouble, but He will stand by our side and fight for us as we pass through the valleys.
Paul states in 1 Corinthians 16:13-14, “Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love.” [Emphasis mine.] Love is a force to be reckoned with. I don’t know anyone who has come to know the Lord because they witnessed other people’s hatred for evil, but there are millions who’ve come to know Jesus because of the Father’s love and acts of kindness from His followers. Jesus said the 2nd greatest commandment, after loving God with all your heart, is to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:30-31.)
Sometimes love means standing in the gap and towing the line, speaking truth against evil. It doesn’t mean kowtowing to your neighbor’s every whim and desire. I desire chocolate pretty much 24/7, but I wouldn’t be very loving toward myself if I ate a Hershey’s bar every time I craved it. We must speak truth, but from a place of love.
Jesus also said to pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). We can push back the darkness by flooding it with light. A new boldness is rising. I’m seeing young men retaliate against the death of Charlie Kirk, not by doing more evil, but by picking up their Bibles and going online and reading scripture. Gamers proclaiming online that they love God to reach people where they interact. And this past Sunday, I hustled giving church tours because of a flood of new guests returning to church or attending for the first time.
I saw a Facebook post where a daughter asked her mother if Charlie’s killer would be going to hell. The mother thought it over and said that she didn’t know, but she believed Charlie Kirk would be the first to welcome the man who shot him into heaven, because it would mean the man repented and gave his heart to God. It wouldn’t surprise me if Stephen stood at Heaven’s Gate with open arms, ready to welcome Paul, even though Paul was present at Stephen’s stoning.
Since the fall of man, God has patiently waited for at least one more person to come to know Him before He wipes out the old earth and creates a new heaven on earth. 2 Peter 3:9 states, “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed but wants everyone to repent.” Christians have been tasked with the challenge to go out and make disciples.
We’re on earth to love God and our neighbor, and to fill heaven.