Charlie Kirk awoke on the morning of September 10, 2025, not knowing that the next few hours would be his last on this earth.

24 years earlier, as Todd Beamer was boarding United Airlines flight 93 from Newark, he had no idea that in less than two hours he would be leading a charge to seize control of the hijacked plane, forcing it to crash land in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

None of us knows the time and manner of his death, but it will come.

The moment Charlie Kirk’s body died, his soul and spirit were fully alive and in the presence of His Creator and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Todd Beamer, same glorious entrance into eternity.

As Christians, they died “in Christ.” And all who die in Christ, in that instant, are transported into the presence of God.

Ever had a brush with death? It’s sobering. I’ve had bullets whiz over my head during deer season; I’ve escaped several close calls while behind the wheel. I had a cancerous kidney removed in 2011. Open heart surgery in 2020. Any of these things could have gone differently apart from divine intervention.

As I enter my 74^th year, I’m fully aware that most of the years of my life are behind me. I don’t know how many more years God has ordained for me; His will be done.

When my time to die comes, like Charlie and Todd and every other person who has received God’s free gift of salvation, I will see my Redeemer face-to-face. Not because I deserve it, not because I’ve earned it, but because a compassionate God provided the means.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16-18)

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the father except by me.” (John 14:6)

“Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

I thank God that one September evening in 1974, an advertising client presented the good news to my wife and me. Every sin I’d ever committed or would commit was poured out on Jesus Christ and judged. He who knew no sin was made sin for me, that I might become the righteousness of God in Him.

By grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Full stop.

In our prosperous nation, many say, Who needs God?

You do. We do. All of us.

Our biggest problems confront us daily: self-centeredness, self-righteousness, preoccupation with ourselves, and just plain self-ish-ness. We desire the approbation of others, crave immediate gratification, and condemn the sins of others while ignoring our own.

But the Word of God pulls us up short.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory (righteousness, justice, and truth) of God.” (Romans 3:23)

“All we like sheep have gone astray….” (Isaiah 53:6a)

“There is none righteous, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10)

You will one day face death. Sooner or later, one way or another.  And then what?

“For it is appointed unto man once to die, and then the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27)

My heart’s desire, if you are reading this and are yet unsure of your eternal destiny after death, is that you will take time, in the privacy of your soul, to consider the simple proposition that God offers you, while you still have the golden opportunity to make the most consequential decision of your life. Your eternal future hangs in the balance.

“Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:31)

Don’t be distracted by the sins of others, mine included. This is only between you and the God who loves you, not because of who and what you are but because of who and what He is.

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:4-9)

When Jesus Christ was hanging on the cross, being judged by God the Father while bearing the full penalty for every sin of every human being, He had you personally in mind.

He died in your place. He paid the penalty for your sins. In full. He did all the work.

This is why, at the final judgment of mankind at the Great White Throne (Revelation 20:7-15), your sins will not be brought up. You will stand or fall on the basis of the righteousness you claim as sufficient for eternal life in the presence of a holy God, your s or His. (Romans 3:21-26)

“For He [God the Father] made Him [Jesus Christ] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (II Corinthians 5:21)

There is no guarantee that you will live to see tomorrow. Death can come at any time, suddenly and unexpectedly, as it did on September 10^th for Charlie Kirk.  

Then what?

The choice is yours. Right here, right now. 

“Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:31)