Secretary of State Marco Rubio spends his days helping shape American foreign policy while navigating wars, hostage negotiations and global crises. Yet during a recent interview with Pastor Greg Laurie, the conversation focused less on geopolitics than on the Gospel, the return of Jesus Christ and the hope Christians have in Him.
Laurie praised Rubio’s remarks during the memorial service for Charlie Kirk, saying they clearly communicated the heart of the Christian faith.
“I thought you did a better job presenting the gospel than some preachers I’ve heard,” Laurie told Rubio. “It was theologically accurate, it was passionate, and it was also understandable.”
Rubio responded that he spoke from the heart.
“I think these things always come best from the heart,” he said.
‘God Took on the Form of a Man’
Rubio recalled the message he shared at Kirk’s memorial, beginning with humanity’s creation and the entrance of sin into the world.
“His deep belief that we were all created, every single one of us, before the beginning of time by the hands of the God of the universe, an all-powerful God who loved us and created us for the purpose of living with Him in eternity.”
“But then sin entered the world and separated us from our creator.”
“And so God took on the form of a man and came down and lived among us.”
“And He suffered like men. And He died like a man. But on the third day, He rose unlike any mortal man.”
Rubio emphasized the physical resurrection of Christ.
“He didn’t rise as a ghost or as a spirit, but as flesh.”
He concluded by pointing to Christ’s promised return.
“And then He rose to heaven, but He promised He would return. And He will.”
‘Christians Should Never Live in Fear’
Laurie later asked Rubio how he handles the enormous responsibility of serving as secretary of state while facing increasingly unstable world events.
Rubio said Christians have a unique reason to live without fear.
“Of all the faiths in the world, and I’m not prejudging or criticizing anybody, but of all the faiths in the world, the ones who should never live in fear or the ones who should never live in worry that becomes paralyzing are Christians because we know how it ends.”
He compared the Christian life to watching a movie whose ending is already known.
“You know how it ends. You know the lead character survives, but nonetheless, you still get nervous every time you see it.”
Rubio then pointed to the promises found in Scripture.
“We know that at the end of time there’ll be a new heaven and a new earth and that Jesus will return.”
He acknowledged that difficult days will come before Christ returns but reminded believers of the certainty of God’s promises.
Order Travis Johnson’s New Book, “[Un]Embarrassed of Jesus” on Amazon.com!
“We know how the movie ends. We know how the story ends.”
“We don’t know when it ends. We can’t detail exactly how that’s going to play out, but we know generally the thematic of it and the thematic of it is victory and the restoration of what we should have been from the very beginning.”
Rubio also reflected on why death exists.
“We were not… death is not a natural… it’s natural because it entered into the world through sin.”
“But we were never meant to die. We were not created to die.”
Living Faithfully While Waiting for Christ’s Return
Laurie asked Rubio whether current world events make him think Jesus’ return could be near.
Rubio cautioned against trying to predict the timing.
“If you look at the 2,000 years of Christianity every generation has believed they lived in the end times.”
He noted that every era has experienced global turmoil and pointed to Jesus’ own teaching about His return.
“I think it’s almost a trap… we’re basically told that it… whether it’s death or the second coming it’ll come as a thief in the night.”
“So, rather than try to predict it or anticipate it, I think you just sort of understand that’s how the story ends and in the meantime, this is what we’re called to do — to live our faith.”
‘Ours Is a Faith of the Cross’
Laurie also asked Rubio whether openly living out his Christian faith has come at a political cost.
Rubio said followers of Christ should expect opposition.
“The gospel’s clear you’ll be hated for it.”
“Ours is a faith of the cross.”
“It’s not the faith of winning the lottery… and there’s nothing wrong with wealth. There’s nothing wrong with success. There’s nothing wrong with happiness.”
“But I think it’s a misunderstanding of Christianity to believe that it’s a… faith that leads to… happiness and prosperity.”
Reflecting on church history, Rubio said Christianity has often been strongest when believers remained faithful under pressure.
“If you look at the era of Christianity where Christianity has been strongest and most vibrant is when it’s countercultural.”
“When it’s been strong and the most vibrant is when it’s been oppressed.”
“We don’t seek oppression. We don’t seek to… be… hated, but it’s going to happen.”
A Public Witness
Laurie concluded the interview by expressing gratitude that Rubio has been willing to speak openly about his faith while serving in one of the nation’s highest offices.
“I think that God has raised you up for this moment to do exactly what you’re doing,” Laurie said.
Throughout the interview, Rubio consistently returned to the same message. While the world faces uncertainty and conflict, Christians have reason for confidence because of the Gospel, Christ’s resurrection and the promise that one day He will return.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
