Rev.2:10 – Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

This week may prove to be one of the most challenging yet strategic moments in recent history in America. As far as I can remember there has never been a moment quite like this. There were similar moments in the 1960’s when John F. Kennedy, Bobbie Kennedy, and Martin Luther King were assassinated and became martyrs to their causes. Each were historical and history changing moments in the course of our nation. The death of each of these men effected the world possibly more than their actual lives did. Charlie’s death is a reminder of the powerful impact of the death of Martin Luther King, a Baptist minister of the gospel, who preached a message of equality for all people. Like Rev. King, Charlie saw the Bible as the authority for his message. They both believed that liberty doesn’t come from man but freedom flows from God Himself.

Charlie Kirk preached powerfully about the need for the born again experience and his death could be considered as the death of a Christian martyr. His message was inseparable from the message of Christ and his words have impacted a generation. The Bible talks about various crowns for those who lived for Christ and one of the words for crown was stephanos, strangely a reminder of the first Christian martyr by the name of Steven. Here is a description of this crown from William Barclay.

“In Greek, there are two words for crown – diadēma, which means the royal crown, and stephanos, which usually has something to do with joy and victory. It is not the royal crown which is being offered to Christians; it is the crown of joy and victory. Stephanos has many associations, and all of them contribute something to the riches of thought behind it. The first connection is with the victor’s crown in the games. Smyrna had games which were famous all over Asia. As in the Olympic Games, the reward of the victorious athlete was the laurel crown. Christians can win the crown of victory in the contest of life.”

I believe that Charlie Kirk stepped from his platform in Utah into the joy of God’s presence. Awaiting him were Jesus and the martyrs from all generations. The victory that was gained is yet to be seen on earth, there will be a harvest from the fruit of this seed of martyrdom that we all witnessed last week. I want to be part of this gathering wave of victory. I think what we are seeing could be called the TURNING POINT.