The Cost of Truth, the Crown of Christ

Martyrs of Christ

Many of you have probably heard by now that Charlie Kirk was killed on Wednesday. It’s tragic and horrific and it brings us deep sorrow; as it should! I don’t want to discount the evil that brought this about. But it isn’t about America as much as it is the battle between good and evil.

I recently was reading a book called “Martyr of the Catacombs” and God used it to bring me to think on this subject of suffering for the sake of Truth. To summarize, it was based during the 3rd century when there was major persecution of the followers of Christ throughout the Roman Empire.

Every Christian in Rome was driven belowground to the Catacombs. A Roman officer by the name of Marcellus was given orders to use his men and round up the Christians to get rid of them. But before he endeavored to do so, Marcellus decided he wanted to learn about these Christians.

He went to find them (it’s a longer story than that but for sake of time I’m summarizing) and after Marcellus asked the questions he’d always pondered, he ended up accepting Christ as his Savior. He gave up prestige, power, wealth, and luxury in order to accept Truth.

And in the end, he gave up his life because of that choice. The specific story may be fictional, but it is true to the fact that countless other followers of Christ across the centuries have lived and died because of the Truth.

Charlie Kirk died because of the Truth. He died because he lived according to the Truth. He died because he wasn’t afraid to confront lies in order for the Truth be uplifted.

It is terrible: but we must remember that his death was victorious because of Who he served here on earth. I don’t know what God is doing in allowing such evil to happen, but I do know that he has a good plan in it.

Christ; The Truth Everlasting

We mustn’t forget Christ in the face of tragedy. Christ who was born to a virgin mother and whispers surrounding His birth. Christ who had no place to call home during his 3 years of ministry.

Christ who was maligned, discounted, ridiculed by the leading religious leaders of the day, betrayed by one of His 12 chosen disciples, abandoned by His closest friends, beaten and flogged, and finally killed in the most shameful manner ever conceived by mankind.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God… In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. And the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it.

John 1:1,4,5

Christ was not just a man; He is the Truth. The Son of God. Who now reigns forever in heaven at the right hand of God. And He warned us of terrible things for the sake of Christ. If you aren’t willing to die for the Truth, there is no need to live for the Truth.

I tell you the solemn truth, the slave is not greater than his master, nor is the one who is sent as a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

john 13:16,17

Jesus is the one who has sent us to proclaim the message of His Truth wherever we go. If he was treated in such a manner, why should we expect any less for ourselves?

Then Jesus came up and said to them,” All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20

Living Ready for Eternity

I don’t know when each individual person will face death; only God does. But one utter certainty we all can have however is that we all will face death, and we all will be judged by God.

It is only through the sacrifice of Christ that we can face death and judgement with a pure heart, a pure life, and the confidence that we are holy and blameless in His sight.

Regardless of when or how your physical life ends, as a follower of Christ we are called daily, moment-by-moment, to die to self and live in Christ’s faithfulness.

I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So, the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

We can Pray….

…that God would comfort the Kirk family as they grieve this terrible loss.

… that God would use Charlie’s death in mighty ways for His Kingdom.

… that the followers of Christ around the world who face these tragedies everyday would be strengthened and grounded in the Truth of Who Christ is and what He has done for them.

… that God would give us a renewed heart and desire to love Him more than we fear death or suffering.

… that we would trust God and cling to Him even when we don’t understand His ways.

Closing

We don’t live for comfort. We live for Christ. And anything lived in Him is victorious. Whether it’s a quiet act of obedience, a public stand for Truth, or a daily dying to self—none of it is wasted.

The world may not understand it. They may call it foolish, weak, or irrelevant. But they don’t get the final word. Christ does.

So may we speak the Truth with courage. May we live with conviction. May we walk in His light, even when the darkness presses in.

Christ has overcome the world; we have no need to fear, and every reason to hope.

Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage.

John 14:27

-Liz