Resurrection Reckoning
The assassination of Charlie Kirk stunned, saddened, and angered many of us. As of this writing, not all the reports are in, but his assassin doesn’t appear to be some lunatic going wild with a handgun in the crowd, but a trained sniper. It is wickedly poetic that he was shot in the throat, his voice being the weapon that he used to tear down arguments and every thought that exalted itself against the knowledge of God (2 Cor 10:4-5). They couldn’t defeat him in the world of ideas, so they had to kill him with the very weapon that they condemn and don’t want anyone else to possess. Charlie went about doing good and was a bold witness for Christ, never harming anyone, and they killed him.
We want to see justice. We desire to discover everyone involved, and we want them executed. They should be. Every. Last. One. Of. Them. The government bears the sword for this purpose. They are to execute evil doers (Rom 13:1-7), and this was an act of pure evil.
But what if it doesn’t happen? Will they get away with it? Only for a brief time.
When talking to the Jews about his authority, Jesus speaks of the final resurrection of the body, a truth most of his audience would have affirmed. Jesus said that “there is an hour coming in which all who are in the tombs (“memorials”) will hear his voice and come forth–those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” (Jn 5:28-29). A final reckoning is coming that no one will escape.
The entire created order is “in Christ” in some sense. As the second and last Adam, Jesus embodies all creation. Paul says in Colossians 1:17 that in him all things consist. The bodies of believers and unbelievers live and move and have their being because of Jesus’ life. At the last day, there will be a general resurrection of all bodies, then the judgment. Those who have done good will be raised to life. Those who have done evil will be raised to condemnation.
Jesus speaking of “doing good” doesn’t assume a merit system in which we earn enough points with God to achieve life. Doing good speaks of seeking and being conformed to God’s will. His will is for you to be loyal to his Son. Those who are loyal to his Son will be raised on the last day (Jn 6:40). Doing good means being conformed to God’s image. Being the image of God doesn’t mean that we are a static picture. Like God himself, his image is living and breathing. Doing good is participating in his life, which means sharing his character, desires, will, affections, purpose, and actions.
Those who do evil are the opposite. “Evil” emphasizes chaos and disorder. Their lives are disordered, and they create disorder. Evil people are those who work against God’s purposes in Christ for his created order.
One day, the good and the evil will be raised to stand before Jesus, the Judge. The good will be granted life. The evil will be condemned to everlasting torment. They will not cease to exist. They cannot because as long as Christ exists, his creation will exist. But they will be the recipients of his focused, eternal wrath.
Though we should press our leaders for justice in the case of Charlie Kirk (and many others) and be angered and grieved if we don’t see it soon, we should not think that they have gotten away with it. A day of inescapable reckoning is coming, where deep state politics has no control. No bribes will be taken. No evidence will be swept under the rug. All will be exposed and justice will be meted out. Charlie and those of us who are his faithful Christian family will stand acquitted. His killers will be condemned unless they repent.
May God grant us justice.
The post Resurrection Reckoning appeared first on Kuyperian Commentary.