Charlie Kirk, Founder and President of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed during a rally at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. As most of you know, Turning Point USA is a conservative youth organization that reaches out on high school and college campuses to present and defend the Judeo-Christian values upon which our country was founded. And just in case you are wondering, Charlie lived his life as a faithful Christian, a husband, and father of two. On Wednesday afternoon, Charlie was greeted by his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and was welcomed into The Father’s House where he will spend eternity.

Today, the reality of Jesus’ words was on full display:  

“The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but I have come that you might have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

It is at times like this when we are all reminded of the uncertainty of life. In Charlie’s case, the thief came, and quite unexpectedly. Jesus told the story of a man who was preparing to harvest a bumper crop of grain and then live a life of ease and pleasure when, quite unexpectedly, his life was taken from him. Jesus called him a “fool” because he lived without any regard for the One who had richly blessed him with material goods (Luke 12:16-21).

As we come to grips with the uncertainty of life, we all need to all be aware of the fact that death is “The Great Equalizer!” The sons of Korah sang the following words in Psalm 49: 

“Everyone can see that even wise men die; the foolish and the senseless alike perish…” (Ps 49:10).

It has always been one of life’s deepest mysteries that those who have been created for eternity often give their lives to trivial pursuits. We know that God speaks to us through His Word and His Spirit, and yet we so often choose to worship the things of this world such as power, prestige, pleasure, and possessions. Did you notice all of the “P’s?” Well, if you put a pad of butter and a little salt on this bowl of “P’s,” it doesn’t seem quite so bad, and I suppose that’s why so many pursue them with abandon. But in the end, as Solomon said, it’s all “fleeting” and “transitory” (Eccl. 1:1-2). It will pass away, but eternity looms before everyone, rich or poor, popular or plain.

Of course, no one sees us bowing down and actually worshipping those “P’s,” but if we are honest, we would grieve their loss if they were taken from us. For most of us, we are much too attached to earthly things than we care to admit. And yet, in the end, when we take our last breath, we will all have the same amount of earthly wealth – ZERO. We will stand before God alone, that is, unless we have an attorney representing us in our defense. Here is what the Apostle John said about our Attorney:

“…if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for our only, but also the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:1-2).

For all those who have given their lives to Christ, He becomes our “advocate,” that is, our defense “attorney” who stands with us when we stand before God. He paid the price for our sins, and that price was enough to cover the cost for the sins of everyone in the whole world. All anyone needs to do is to repent of their sins and turn, by faith, to Christ, trusting Him for their salvation. And as John said just a few verses earlier:

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

If you haven’t yet done so, just turn to Christ for salvation. The thief did come last Wednesday, but did you catch the remainder of the is verse? Let’s look at it again:

“The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but I have come that you might have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

Jesus came to give us LIFE (Gk. zoe – spiritual life) and the quality of that LIFE is abundance. In other words, if you want to “really live,” then Jesus gives us an abundant LIFE just for the asking. It’s a gift – By faith, just ask Him to give it to you!

May all of us live our lives in light of eternity and pursue eternal values that will never fade away.