Martyrdom comes up on many who might expect it but do not seek it's impact

Martyrdom comes upon many who might expect it but do not seek its impact

Charlie nKirk did not seek it but martyrdom found him.  Neither did St. Stephen look for it after he spoke out about Jesus whom they just witnessed the Crucifixion of the Son of God.  Jesus alerted the disciples that they would also follow his path to martyrdom.  “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you.”  (Jn 15: 18 -19).

With Stephen the very same discourse he spoke of regarding their part in killing the Son of God.  When they heard all the accusations of their crucifying Christ they were infuriated and ground their teeth at him.  But he, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of God standing at the right hand of God.”  But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears, and rushed upon him together.  They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him.  As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”  Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” and when he said this, he fell asleep.  (Acts: 7: 54 - 60).  

Charlie also was speaking about the need to love one another and have faith in Jesus Christ.  Yet, just like St. Stephen, the listeners couldn’t stand to hear his words of how he stood for the Son of God and all that he also spoke of as a witness to his Father who sent him to redeem sinners.  The far Left in our country today are exactly the same as those in Jerusalem.  Someone couldn’t bear to listen to Charlie's words of truth and performed the same ritual on Charlie that the people of the city acted out on Stephen.

There are some other evangelists (and promoters of human rights) standing up for righteousness who also felt the bullet of an enemy of goodness and righteousness in the 20th century;  They are President John F. Kennedy, U.S. Attorney General, Robert F. Kennedy, and Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.   All three stood for the rights of all people and died at the hands of an assassin because too many people have lost their faith and were without God on the day they took a bullet killing them.  Charlie is now a martyr like those before him because he has the grace of Almighty God dwelling within his heart and stands with them as a hero to those who are blessed with the same grace.

Unfortunately these may not be the last in a world that has gone mad and the premise of evil will haunt the rest of us trying to solve the mystery of Satanic influence also predicted by the Sacrifice of Jesus.  

“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.  Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.  Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.  Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be.  THe Father will honor whoever serves me.”  (Jn 12: 23 - 26).  

Charlie Kirk, John Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr. and St. Stephen; all heroes and saints for the courage to speak out for righteousness and perfect contrition against the evils of the present world.  We need more men and women who are sent by Christ into this world governed by the enemy of God, and all who are believers in holiness to speak out for what is right.

Ralph B. Hathaway