A Personal Turning Point

September 10, 2025, may well become the turning point in American culture, the objective upon which Charlie Krirk based his life’s work. I certainly hope so, because no one should be viciously assassinated for simply initiating open and honest discourse with people of all thoughts and opinions.

Yet, on Wednesday, the entire world watched in real time via dozens of social media posts as Charlie Kirk, the founder and CEO of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed as he spoke to a crowd of students and guests in the courtyard of Sorenson Center on the campus of Utah Valley University. With only a single shot fired, the life of one of America’s most iconic young men was instantly snuffed out with obvious premeditated hatred and planning.

Now, I could go on and on about this heinous act and its root causes, its implications, and its possible lasting impacts on our culture, but I won’t. We all know, even those among us who cheered and applauded this cowardly sniper, that Charlie Kirk was truly a force to be reckoned with. At the age of 31, Kirk had already spent 13 years of his life advocating for young Americans to actively get involved in the world around them.

In fact, the formal objective of Turning Point USA, which Kirk founded in 2012 at the ripe old age of 18, states that his organization is “committed to identifying, educating, training, and organizing students to promote freedom.” With his social media posts reaching over a million people each month, Kirk was quite successful in pursuit of that objective. Plus, Turning Point USA currently has “a presence on over 3,000 high school and college campuses nationwide, over 650,000 lifetime student members, and 450 full- and part-time staff all across the country.”

Obviously, Kirk was so successful in his determined goals that someone was terrified that his words would indeed illicit a revolutionary return to individual fact-based thought and action, a literal turning point in American history that would irrevocably take our nation back to family, freedom, and faith.

I cannot imagine the evil behind Kirk’s murder, but I can most assuredly imagine the goodness of God that will honor the life of Charlie Kirk by tending and growing the seeds of freedom and faith that he planted in the hearts, minds, and souls of our young people. I believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that September 10, 2025, was indeed a turning point for America, and I believe an army of Christ-centered patriots will march forth from this televised tragedy and lead our nation and the world back to the feet of Jesus – the exact spot where Charlie Kirk is worshipping right this moment.

I truly believe that, and I am already praising God for America’s turning point, marked by the moment that the assassin’s shot rang out and hit Charlie Kirk at 12:20 p.m. MT on Wednesday, September 10. But in the meantime, in the long Selah between now and eternity, my thoughts and prayers go out to Kirk’s wife Erika, his two young children, and the rest of his family.

Because the truth is, despite the official statistics, the frenzied coverage of his murder, and its eternal impact, Charlie Kirk was first a husband, a father, a son, and a devoted Christian. He was simply a young man loved deeply by his family, and they are the ones who will have to endure the hardest part of this history-changing event.

For his family, the grief journey is just getting started. In fact, they are probably still in absolute shock over the instantaneous loss of their beloved Charlie Kirk.

Thankfully, I know from firsthand experience that God is so gracious in those first moments of grief. He is truly an ever-present help in our times of deep need. It’s almost as if our physical shock is a gift from God that shields us from the long-term battle that looms on the horizon of death and grief.

In fact, people have marveled at the post that Kirk’s wife Erika posted on her personal X account (formerly Twitter) shortly before the official announcement of his death. Amazingly, she wrote: “Psalm 46:1 – God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Why is that post so surprising coming from a young Christian woman of strength and character such as Erika Kirk – or any other believer?

Indeed, God alone is our source of help in times of need, such as the death of our loved ones. And His help never fails or falters. Keep in mind that God was neither shocked nor surprised when that fatal shot rang out. He was fully aware of the evil intent and the heart of the perpetrator, as well as the heart of Charlie Kirk, his wife, and his family members. God was there; He’s always there.

Ironically, His presence is a continual source of question for those who do not know or serve God. Unbelievers (and even believers) often question how and why God could be present in such a situation and not intervene.

He did intervene – long, long ago in a stable in Bethlehem.

That was the exact moment when He sent His only begotten Son, a spotless, sinless Lamb, to take on human form, to literally become one of us.

Then, His Son Jesus lived fully as a flesh-and-blood man, and as such, He willingly laid down His life for me, for you, and for Charlie Kirk on the cross of Calvary. And on that cross, he took on this sin of ALL mankind that had ever lived and ever would live – including the sins of Charlie Kirk’s assassin.

But His death was not the end; it was the beginning, in fact. It was the eternally resounding moment when Jesus walked through the gates of his enemy and took back the keys to death, Hell, and the grave. It was then and there that Jesus Christ conquered sin for all eternity – freely and without hesitation – because He loved us so very much.

And that was the real message of freedom that Charlie Kirk lived (and died) to share – especially with those who despised him and his beliefs the most.

So … no, God was not surprised by the murder of Charlie Kirk. But yes, God was right there in Utah as Charlie Kirk successfully finished his life’s assignment on September 10, 2025.

And I have no doubt that our Savior was waiting to catch Charlie Kirk as he instantly fell from the force of that assassin’s bullet. Then, as Jesus caught him in those loving, nail-scarred hands, I am also sure that Charlie Kirk heard his Savior whisper, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

In that moment, America truly was left at a turning point in history, and the only question that remains is whether or not each of us will complete our God-given assignment with the same faith and determination as our brother Charlie Kirk.

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