THE COST OF TRUTH 017
Charlie Kirk was only 31.
He had already given his life to Christ and though his life on this earth has been cut short, his impact is not over. In fact, it may only just be beginning – actually, I’m positive of this fact.
Charlie understood something early that most men never grasp: the call of Christ is not easy. Jesus told His disciples plainly:
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.”
That is not a call to comfort or a promise of safety. That is a GUARANTEE of difficulty.
Charlie wasn’t afraid of that. He lived in it.
He took his place in the arena of open discourse and never shrank back. He met opposition head-on without losing his cool. He didn’t trade insults for insults. He stayed grounded and was clear, educated, and unflinching. I don’t need to tell you how rare that is - amongst our entire population.
That’s where the lesson is for us.
This is not the time for retaliation, slurs, or anger. Charlie understood this - that’s too easy, and it doesn’t honor Charlie. If we want to honor him, then we need to get a lot more serious about OUR OWN FAITH AND OUR OWN VIEWS. We need to learn what we believe and why we believe it. We need to sharpen ourselves in truth so we can stand and speak humbly - without fear and without being undone when the world mocks, rejects, or even hates us.
Because if you decide to live in truth—REALLY LIVE IN IT—life will get HARDER. Jesus promised as much. But He also promised He would never leave us.
Charlie lived with that tension: the difficulty of discipleship and the hope of Christ. He showed that honest discourse, rooted in conviction but delivered with control, is possible—even when it costs everything.
So the question for us at the workbench this weekend is simple:
1. Am I willing to bear that cost?
2. Am I willing to be formed so deeply in Christ that truth, not anger, comes out of me?
3. Am I willing to live for something worth dying for?
Charlie did. And that’s why his life—though cut short—is not finished. His witness continues.
HOMEWORK FOR THE WEEKEND
1. Write it down - In your journal, answer this: *What do I actually believe about Christ, and why?* Write it as if you were explaining it to a friend who doesn’t share your faith.
2. Read and remember - Open to Matthew 16:24–26. Copy it by hand, slowly, until it sinks in. Let the words mark you.
3. Practice one conversation - When an opportunity comes, step into it. Have one calm, honest exchange with someone who disagrees with you. Listen well. Speak clearly. Refuse anger.