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Where is Charlie Kirk now?

Published since 26. Sep. 2025
Bible passages:
Luke 23:43

"And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." (Luke 23:43)

Many will remember the day Charlie Kirk was shot. He was not only known for his political activism and his fight for the unborn, but above all, as a committed Christian who stood up for the gospel, the Bible, and Christian truths.

Charlie Kirk was a husband and father of two young children, who now have to live without a husband and without a dad. What unimaginable pain! Many of us have experienced something similar: a loved one being taken from us. One moment, they are part of our lives, and the next, they are torn from us. Most of the time, we have some time to prepare for it. In some cases, such as Charlie Kirk's, it catches us completely off guard.

Funerals are often especially heartbreaking. I remember my wife's grandfather's funeral well. We stood as a family at the grave and approached one by one to say our final goodbyes. Our eldest son had been quite composed until then. But when we reached the open grave and he saw the coffin, he began to cry bitterly. Later, when we talked about it, he said to me, "Dad, Grandpa just doesn't belong there!" How right he is! In fact, no human being belongs in a hole in the ground. It is a sad and tragic consequence of sin, which entered this world through man's disobedience and rebellion against God. God had warned man: on the day he transgressed the divine commandment, he would die (Genesis 2:17). Since that event in the Garden of Eden, sin and death have been a part of our world. Death has spread to all people because they have all sinned (Romans 5:12).

After the fall of man, God must say: “In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:19)

But death and the grave are not the end. As children of God, we can look beyond the grave with hope. Jesus Christ said:

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26).

In these two verses, the Lord Jesus speaks of believers who have already died and yet live. What may sound contradictory at first is not a problem for faith: what has died here on earth is merely the body. This does not mean that the person has ceased to exist; they continue to live in another place and in another state. The Lord also speaks of those who will never die. We know that the Lord Jesus can return at any moment. Then the "dead in Christ" will rise, and afterward, we will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord. The apostle Paul concludes his teaching on this subject in 1 Thessalonians 4 with the words: "... and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore, encourage one another with these words!"

What a wonderful day that will be—a day that begins like any other here on earth but ends in the eternity of heaven. Are we looking forward to that day? Are we living toward that day, when we will be with Christ?

It is Christ’s desire, to have us with himself:

“…I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:3)

“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24).

What a glorious future! It could begin for us at any moment! 

If we consider the believers who have already died, in a sense, their future has already begun. They are with the Lord Jesus Christ! 

Let's examine three Bible passages that convey the same idea but offer distinct perspectives. In 2 Corinthians 5:8, we find:

“So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:6-8)

A believer—someone who is born again and has the Holy Spirit as a guarantee—can indeed be "always confident." This assurance applies to death, whether it is our own or that of those who have gone before us. We know that man consists of spirit, soul, and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23). As long as we are here on earth, we are "at home in the body." However, the moment will come (if the Lord has not returned before then) when we will be "absent from the body." When a believer dies, the body—the mortal shell—dies. It is the body that is laid in the grave. In this context, Peter refers to ”putting off his tent” (2 Peter 1:14). His body served as a tent for his spirit and soul (his personality), housing them for a time.

But then we will be "present with the Lord." Two important thoughts are connected with this:

1. A believer who dies goes "home." There is a true home for the believer. It is not a physical place, certainly not one on this earth, but rather a person.

2. That person is the Lord. As believers, we are also servants—servants of the Lord and engaged in His work. However, our service is limited to this earth, and we should use our time in service to Him. The time will eventually come when every service comes to an end. Then it is as though the Lord tells His servant, "Now it is enough. Come home and rest with Me!"

Let us examine the words of the Lord Jesus to the criminal crucified alongside Him in Luke 23:43: 

“Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

These are wonderful words from the Lord Jesus to this man, spoken under terrible circumstances. Beaten, spat upon, scourged, and crowned with thorns, the Lord Jesus hangs on the cross. All His disciples have forsaken Him, and Enemies surround him. Yet, the most tremendous suffering lies ahead during the three hours of darkness when He will endure the judgment of a holy and righteous God because of sin. Despite this, the Lord Jesus does not think about Himself. Instead, He turns to the man next to Him and begins with the word "truly." What follows is a firm promise from the Lord. 

This poor man, guilty and already facing judgment, recognized his reality. In faith, he turned to the Lord and asked for a place in the future kingdom. However, what follows exceeds his wildest expectations: "Today you will be with me in paradise!" He would not have to wait; He would be in paradise today. There would be no waiting for the kingdom, no perseverance in "purgatory," and no purification required—he would be in paradise today! 

These remarkable words from the Lord describe the nature of this place: a place of joy, far removed from suffering and pain. What a comfort for this man, who, like the Savior, was hanging on a cross. He would not be alone there; the "man in the middle" Himself would be present. 

"You with me" are the words of Jesus, who, in a few moments, would face God's judgment as the Savior for this man's sins. We do not know how much the criminal understood when he turned to Jesus in faith. What turmoil he must have felt when darkness fell for three hours, followed by the sound of Jesus crying out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" However, we can be sure of this: when a believer dies today, he goes to Jesus, his Savior. He closes his eyes here on earth, and at that very moment, he will see his Savior in paradise! He will meet the One who loved him personally and gave Himself for him. Jesus is not only the goal; He is the reason why he is allowed to be in paradise! 

Finally, let us consider a few verses from Philippians 1:21-23: 

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.”

These words mark a stark difference between believers and unbelievers. What unbeliever could say that dying is gain for them? For them, it is the greatest catastrophe of their lives. Everything dear and precious is ripped from their hands. Even if they felt like masters of their own lives, what comes next is beyond their control—only judgment awaits. Death is the greatest loss for them! 

In contrast, for a believer, it is gain! Paul understood this well. In 2 Corinthians 12, he writes about being caught up into paradise, where he heard words he was not permitted to repeat. This suggests that, in our current state, we may not be capable of grasping the glory and beauty of paradise. It's easy to understand why Paul's heartfelt desire was to "depart and be with Christ." The original word for "depart" can also mean "dissolve," indicating that when a believer dies, their earthly existence comes to an end forever. Everything tied to our human experience in this sinful world is left behind when the departed goes to Christ in paradise. 

Do we perhaps begin to envy those who have gone before us? They would never want to return; for them, as Paul said, it is "far better!"

It is important to note that Paul does not refer here to being with Jesus or the Lord—though that is undoubtedly true—but rather to our "being with Christ." He emphasizes that we will be with the glorified man, Christ Jesus, whom God has made both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36).

Let's examine one last passage that provides further insight into paradise and the state of departed believers. In Luke 16:22, we read:

“So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom.”

The first key takeaway here is that Lazarus died and was carried by angels to paradise. There is no reason to believe that this practice has changed today when a believer passes away. Angels are described as “ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation” (Hebrews 1:14). This act can be seen as a final service to the believer, as the Lord Jesus commands an angel to escort the believer to heaven at the end of their earthly journey. Thus, there is no error or oversight regarding the destination of the believer.

Another point to consider is that both believers and unbelievers in Hades appear to be in a state where they can hear, see, speak, and feel. There is interaction and communication present. If the rich man was in pain, then it follows that Lazarus was not. We should adhere to what the Bible reveals on this subject and avoid unnecessary speculation. This clearly indicates that there is no state of passivity or "soul sleep."

Lastly, it is important to recognize that departed believers are comforted. It is challenging to articulate exactly what this comfort entails and how it manifests. However, it likely relates to the personal attention of the Lord Jesus concerning our experiences on earth, particularly for what we endured or sacrificed for Him. God is just and does not forget the efforts we make for His sake.

The death of a loved one is undoubtedly a heart-wrenching experience, marked by separation and sorrow. However, we can find solace in knowing that believers who have passed away are now with the Lord Jesus Christ. They have left behind the suffering and hardships of this earth and are now in a place of joy and comfort. This knowledge can provide us with comfort during our grieving.

Let us remember the words of the Lord Jesus that we referenced earlier:

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” (John 11:25-26)

Those who have preceded us in death are alive—no longer on this earth but with Christ in paradise. Death is merely a change of place and state. We, too, await the return of the Lord Jesus, who will take us to Himself. Then,

“the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

Maybe today!

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