Chosen

We had a heartbreak this past week. Everyone is writing tributes, and they should.

When we walked Sunday, I found the leaf pictured above. It’s a cottonwood leaf, in the shape of a perfect heart–a broken heart. It was the only leaf in the middle of the road, perfectly aligned as if placed there. It had been driven over and the pebbles pushed up through it. It was a perfect heart, pierced in a dozen places.

When I saw it, I thought of Charlie Kirk. For me, everything seems to point to Charlie in these first few days after his murder.

I remembered my brother’s consistent prayer over the last year or two: “Break my heart for you, Lord.”

We get so hard, so tough, so jaded. We become so focused on ourselves, our stuff, our plans.

A broken heart no longer is capable of self-containment. Grief spills out. Tears, anger, and the expression of all kinds of things that might never have seen the light of day are there for all to see. And then there is pain.

Pain sharpens your focus. Pain can help you think, and remember, but it hurts(!)

As we walked, I thought of the cottonwood leaf, a perfect heart. It must have been the most beautiful leaf on the tree, better than the lopsided ones around it. But it was destroyed so publicly, all alone on the blacktop, while the rest huddled together on the shoulder (off stage). Why that leaf? Why the perfect one?

Charlie was like an old-fashioned knight, kneeling to his King. He honored his lady before he went onto the field, comforting her with the reminder that he fought for her and for their children. He fought honorably. He never stabbed his opponent in the back by making the attack personal. He helped his opponent pick up the weapon he had fumbled before resuming the contest.

Have you seen how he helped source information his opponent was using against him? How he helped with the correct term (respectfully) and educated others along the way? His goal was not to destroy, but to reclaim for his King. His actions show he was driven by love, and now the love that Charlie displayed has spilled across this country and flooded the world.

Charlie Kirk was effective because he was Chosen.

Charlie was called into action by God and he responded with passionate obedience. He never tired of answering the call God put on his life. I fully believe that Charlie would have continued to do what he was doing even if his organization stayed small. He loved talking with people, and debating-to-inform. God put it in him to love what he did.

Charlie Kirk was an amazing distillation of the traits of a leader. Yet, he was kind, thoughtful, and even a little artistic. Did you hear the RFK jr. story about how Charlie Kirk planned the historic moment when Trump and RFK jr. joined forces onstage? Charlie was the one who suggested they light the sparklers the moment they shook hands. He is a legend!

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” (1Peter 2:9-10)

Someone called Charlie Kirk “a force of nature,” this past week. I think almost everyone could agree with that. If he had not seemed unstoppable, they wouldn’t have tried to kill him. Charlie saw the effect he was having, and knew he was a target. But it didn’t stop him. And now, he is unstoppable.

Jim reminded me of Obi Wan’s line from Star Wars: A New Hope: “If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.”

What was the source of Charlie’s power? Jesus Christ. Charlie gave Jesus Christ the glory for whatever he accomplished. He knew what it was to be “called out of darkness and into His marvelous light.” He worked feverishly to share that light with others. Charlie knew he was designed for a purpose. He knew He couldn’t do anything without God, and that God had chosen and empowered him to lead a revival.

The murderer unwittingly released a wave of light that has broken out into the world. It’s an awakening! And now, the church, the bride of Christ, must continue her role in sharing and amplifying that light with the world.

As we walked around the beautiful lake, I realized that the responsibility to take action has shifted back to all of us who were cheering. No one person can take up the mantle that has dropped from Charlie’s shoulders. It’s too big, too heavy. When I thought about that, I felt completely inadequate.

It’s like Charlie Kirk walked off the stage mid-scene, and we are still standing awkwardly in the spotlight. “Where is the understudy?” (Shifts feet.) “We weren’t expecting to get this kind of attention!”

(Psst. The attention has always been there. We are just more aware of it right now.)

“What are we supposed to do?”

The truth is that I have been chosen, too, and so have you. God put us here right now, and designed us the way we are so that we would be able to meet the challenges He knew we would face. But rest assured that you and I are not meant to be alone. Jesus prayed for us to have unity. He prayed that we would stay in intimate connection with God, and that our closeness with God would help us stay connected to each other.

Neither you, nor I, are Charlie Kirk; but we can learn from his example. He and so many others left a record before they passed from this world. I am so encouraged when I read biographies and hear testimonies from others who love God! All the power of those people came from God in the first place, and that power is just waiting to fill the next obedient child that glorifies God.

When we feel defeated or out-numbered or overwhelmed by the horrific nature of the evil we face, it’s usually because we forget Who God is, and how powerful He is. It’s all right to grieve. Jesus did, too. But don’t be afraid or discouraged. We don’t defeat the evil; He does. Our job is to get close to Him, obey in the ways He directs us, and then watch Him work.

Our God is the Father of Lights: The most powerful, richest Father that exists.

He is THE CREATOR.

He made gravity and centrifugal force and magnetism and electricity! He designed water and air! He fashioned the eyes in your head, and implanted your best desires and ambitions. He makes your heart beat, put the life in your blood, and you are breathing His air!

What made Charlie Kirk so special was that he was chosen by God to do something, and he threw himself into it and obeyed with all of his might. “Thou shalt love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.” (Deuteronomy 6:5) Charlie was exalted, not because he was amazing, but because He obeyed God.

This is boot camp. We are all in training. All the principles of physical development are a good analogy for spiritual development. As you get closer and closer to God, you will see things in a new light. Your previous ways of thinking will seem childish and shallow. Your values will change, and become more refined. Your standards will align with God as you begin to love what He loves and hate what He hates.

God chose you, too, and when you lean into it, He will bless you in ways you can’t imagine. He created you for a purpose, and even though it might stretch you, or pull you out of your comfort zone (at first), it will be something that you love to do–because you were designed to do it! We don’t “find ourselves,” we discover what God has planned for us! And when we slip into our tailor-made, perfectly-designed role, it’s exhilarating to realize: Everything. Just. Works.

Look what happened when Charlie said “Yes!” What will happen in your own life? Following Jesus is always an adventure, and it grows you in every way. Don’t be afraid; you have everything you need for whatever He is calling you to do; you just may not know it yet.

(Soon, they may be making songs and telling stories about what God did through you!)

Remember that you follow a miracle-worker; there is no “off.” There is no “quit.” “Impossible” doesn’t exist. Our imaginations are too small for what lies ahead; but no matter–we will learn! The goal is eternal life and ever-growing joy.

We know that it will get darker before our Savior comes, so shine the light you are being given for those near-by on the path. Do your best not to leave anyone behind. . . (“Break my heart for you, Lord. . .”)

You Are Chosen!