STONED AGAIN

Thoughts About a Modern Day Martyr

"4 days now and it still doesn't seem real. Stephen was speaking to the elders and they took him out and stoned him. Everyone is afraid, angry and so very sad. Above all this, our resolve is strengthened. Jesus is the messiah and He did raise from the dead. We are witnesses of this and will not be silenced, EVER! The world must know!" the apostle Peter 1st Century A.D.

On my way to church this morning God spoke to me. Its been a while. I've been so busy and stressed with work. I was pondering the shocking events of last week, when I heard His voice loud in my ear "Remember Stephen?" You see Charlie Kirk, Christ follower, father, husband, son, friend, debater, and patriot, was murdered 4 days ago. Like the rest of the world I have been struggling with why. I know God has a greater plan than we could ever imagine. He was so young and had a wife and two little children who were witness to his murder. He never criticized but always spoke the truth in love. His passion was that the youth of this country would know Jesus as HE knew Jesus. It makes no sense to us that someone would hate this message so much as to end his life.

So I started thinking about Stephen. The first mention of him was Acts 6:5 it called him "a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit." Wow, could this have described Charlie any more perfectly? Stephen's story is not long, and consists basically of the events leading up to his murder. He spoke the truth and they stoned him for it. Sound familiar? We don't know how old he was, or if he had a wife and children. We do know that after his death godly men buried him and mourned deeply for him. But there is something else we gain from this story. The introduction to a man who would change Stephen's sad story into God's glorious victory, Paul the apostle.

As I thought about Charlie I wondered what God has in store for his sad story. You see, He doesn't allow tragedy to be used to destroy, He works it for good! I thought of Joseph, Moses, Samson, Ruth, David, Jonah and yes, Jesus. Every situation that mankind believes to be a loss, God turns it around for HIS glory. The news media's motto is "If it bleeds, it leads." God's motto "Be Still and know that I am God."

I began to imagine who God was going to raise up. I began to think of all who would be saved because of Charlie's murder. Think of the MILLIONS upon MILLIONS that were saved because of Stephen's murder. Would the person or people who God raises from these ashes be someone like Paul? Someone who called for Charlie's death, or perhaps one of the many who celebrated his death on social media and have since lost their jobs? Wouldn't that be amazing?! Then I thought, would we accept them and believe that God had changed them? When news of Paul's change came to the church they were amazed! Cornelius was afraid at first, but God used him to heal Paul. The believers when they heard he was preaching the good news of the gospel praised God. In light of this, we should already be praising God!

I am convinced now more than ever that God will use this tragedy like He used the tragedy of Stephen, in a way that you and I could never in a thousand years have seen coming. This isn't about America or a political ideology, this is about filling the body of Christ to capacity! Jesus is coming soon and God needed to wake us up. We have to fill the church with those who will be saved before Jesus can return. This is our greatest victory, stealing lives from the grip of Satan. So many that Charlie talked to were lost in the lies that Satan has told them through their college professors, social media, the news and their peers. Satan's lies are the same old nonsense he has spewed since Adam and Eve - "you will not surely die". He isn't imaginative. He is a copycat loser. He may have convinced someone to murder Charlie, but God will save a million others just because He can!

Imagine Jesus welcoming Charlie and letting him in on the plan to save millions through his death. Do you think for one minute Charlie would be begging to come back? He will have a front row seat to watch what God does in the tragedy. He lived his life for Jesus and wanted everyone to have the same relationship that he had. If it meant dying so that millions could be saved, then I don't see him arguing at all. I see him falling on his face and saying that he is not worthy of such a great honor. I never saw Charlie as arrogant or self-serving. I saw him as someone passionate about the truth. Jesus is the way the truth and the life. Charlie knew that. His whole life was lived to point others to the truth of Jesus.

This victory has already been won. We don't stand in defeat with God ever, not even in death. Oh death where is your sting? Is Charlie silenced? Not a chance.

1Samuel 12:16 "Now then, stand still and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes!"

Job 31:4 "Does he not see my ways and count my every step?

Romans 11:33-36 "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!" “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Romans 13:11-12 ^"And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light."