Where Do We Go from Here?

When I heard about the shooting of Charlie Kirk, I was in shock.

The first thing I did was pray.

I prayed that Charlie would live and not die.

I prayed for his family and for our nation.

Once I heard the news that Charlie had died, I was numb. I honestly didn’t know what to do. As Deb and I listened to the news reports, we both wept.

It was weird because we didn’t know Charlie personally, but we were still grieving.

I asked myself why I was grieving for somebody I didn’t know, and I realized it was similar to the emotions that I had as I watched Minneapolis burn in 2020. I wept then, too, not because of the loss of physical buildings, but because of the loss of the city I called home for three decades. I knew Minneapolis would never be the same after the riots.

That’s when I realized I wasn’t just grieving for Charlie; I was grieving for our nation.

Things felt hopeless.

I took a couple of days off. I just wanted to curl up in my bed and stay there.

I kept asking myself, “Where do we go from here?”

Hope came when I heard Tyrus, the former professional wrestler, talk about the death of Charlie Kirk.

Here is some of what he said, the part that really got to me:

“You know, this has been difficult. I feel bad because I didn’t like what Charlie was doing. I’m not a religious person. Unfortunately, in my life experiences, most people who put God in front of them were ‘full of it.’

And Charlie, in his death, I learned that his faith was unbelievable, and I struggle with relating to that.

He had principles and accountability. It used to be something in this country that we admired, to be different, to speak from the heart. And he did something that most of us didn’t have the patience to understand. This dude would give the microphone to anyone to say anything.

I’m not going to lie. I didn’t understand his commitment, and I really wish I had learned the lesson sooner. I hope people of faith who want to continue his tour, continue his legacy.

I really think he’s going to inspire a generation.”

It was clear that, for the first time, Tyrus was confronted with someone who was a true Christian.

What is a true Christian? Jesus said it like this:

“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.”

As I listened to Tyrus speak, I realized he was genuinely contemplating his own relationship with God, which was a result of Charlie’s commitment.

Charlie was willing to die for something he believed in.

I know most of us want the violence and political rhetoric to stop. We want our lives to go back to normal, but the truth is, I cannot control what other people do; I can only control what I do.

So, what can I do?

I can stop trying to hang onto my life and give my life to Christ.

I’m not talking about simply praying the “sinner’s prayer;” I mean really giving my life to Christ. I’m talking about everyday praying, “Not my will, but your will be done.”

Ministry is all around me. If I am hurting, others are hurting as well. As I began to think about the lost world I live in and how much people need the Lord, I thought less about my own problems and my own safety.

I turned 66 this year.

I could simply retire and spend my days on the beach, but my commitment to Christ will not allow me to do that. Deb and I have always been about reaching the next generation with the power of God, and right now, Generation Z is more open to God than I have ever seen.

Remember what Tyrus said:

“I really think that he is going to inspire a generation.”

Is Charlie’s death the trigger that sparks revival in our nation?

Nobody knows for sure, but I do know this: “The harvest is ripe; the laborers are few.”

New people are coming into the Kingdom. Now is not the time to back off; it’s time to step up your commitment and say, “Here I am, Lord, send me.”

• Get on your knees.
• Ask God what your assignment is.
• Listen to Him.
• Do what He says.