On September 11th, 2001, my family was in Seattle, Washington, in the middle of a long-anticipated vacation. Early that morning, Pacific time, my wife woke me to the news that an airplane had impacted one of the Twin Towers in New York City. As an Air Force and commercial pilot, I initially thought this could have been a tragic accident. But by the end of the morning, like everyone else in the country, I realized that wasn’t the case.
By the end of the day, I’d already checked in with my military unit and was encouraged to get home and report as soon as possible. Everyone in uniform knew that the terrorist attacks of 9/11 would be a turning point for our nation.
In the days that followed, my heart was gladdened when political leaders in Washington put aside their incessant differences for one brief moment. They stood united, even singing, “God Bless America!” from the steps of the U.S. Capitol.
In the midst of the trauma, they collectively affirmed that God is the source of our blessing, our purpose, and our unity. Many hoped that sentiment would last, but within days, the backbiting and squabbling started right back up.
My world was changed following 9/11. I spent the following Christmas deployed away from home, and in early 2003, I received word that my unit would deploy to the Middle East within a matter of days. We all put our lives on hold to go and live in a desolate place in hopes that evil would be pushed back and our children would be free from the scourge of terrorism.
Sadly, to this day, terrorism still continues on the earth. And my own son is now serving in the military, inspired by the events of 9/11. But today, just 24 years later, haters of America and our Judeo-Christian heritage are not just attacking us from overseas. They are multiplying within our midst. And the ideology of hate has infected scores of young people who are being steeped in a loathing of everything that once made America great, beginning with the truth claim that our blessings, our freedoms, and our very lives are a gift from Almighty God.
In recent weeks, a leading Democratic senator has actually denigrated the words of the Declaration of Independence, affirming that our liberties are endowed to all of us by our creator God.
Now, we have experienced yet another turning point.
On the eve of the anniversary of 9/11. A young man who had been indoctrinated by wicked ideologies lashed out with homicidal rage. His own family has described how he became filled with hate, rejecting the faith of his parents and embracing the mantras of the left. Tragically, his violent rage, the very definition of the word “Hamas,” manifested in his assassination of Charlie Kirk, a conservative provocator who is unashamed to profess his Christian faith.
Now, some will key on the word “provocator,” but in this context, the word simply means one who provokes dialogues or arguments regarding worldviews and truth claims. He did so by treating those who disagreed with him with dignity and grace, consistently inviting them to engage in a dialogue, modeling the Lord’s own invitation: “Come, let us reason together.”
Many on the left, and some on the right, do not want to reason. They do not want to debate, discuss, or offer dignity. They simply label their foes as deplorables and seek to impose their worldview on everyone.
The reaction to the murder of Charlie Kirk has been telling. Young Christians who were inspired by his message gathered to mourn and console one another, seeking to overcome a collective shock to their generation. But they also came together to praise the Lord and commit themselves to being watchmen and watchwomen in our darkening world.
On the other side, those given over to the darkness have celebrated Charlie’s murder, gloating that his voice has been silenced even as they failed to realize that a million Charlie Kirks will now follow in his footsteps.
The divide in America and around the world seems to be growing day by day. Satan is raging because he knows his time is short. He is our enemy. Those who reject Christ are raging because their hearts are filled with confusion, hate, and despair. But that does not make them our enemy.
As Charlie Kirk realized, that makes them our mission field.
The scenes playing around the country right now prove that we are at a turning point. Will we turn back or repent from the destructive course we are on, or will our society continue to flaunt its rebellion against the God who has blessed America?
Moses offered the children of Israel an unequivocal black and white choice, saying, “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19).
Less than a generation later, Joshua recognized his people’s tendency to wander away from the blessing of God. He challenged them to choose whom they would serve: The false god of the age or the true and living God.
Joshua made the bold declaration that regardless of their choice, he and his house would serve the Lord. Our nation is at an inflection point. I pray that, in hindsight, this will be seen as a turning point for the USA and for individuals around the world who decide to follow Jesus.
You may not think you can impact a nation, but Charlie Kirk’s life proves that one person inspired by the power of the gospel and willing to speak truth, engage with the lost, and shine the light of Christ in the darkness can impact countless lives.
Choose this day whether you will rise to that challenge.
