For over a thousand years, followers of Islam have been waging genocide against anyone who disagrees with them. A little over a year ago, some of these followers murdered twenty-one Coptic Christians in Libya on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. We remember these particular victims because their murderers made a video.
They died with the name of Jesus on their lips. Because of the video, they were able to confess Christ to the world. Christ will remember them. (Luke 23:42-43). Christ will remember us all. (John 6:37-40).
Some give their lives to Christ in one bold act of confessing his name at the edge of a sword, while others give their lives through countless acts of service to others. All Christians must give their lives because Christ gave his. Christ gave his life, and we must follow him.
If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?
— Luke 9:23-25, ESV.
President Harrison of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod made a short video commemorating the anniversary of the martyrdom of the twenty-one Coptic Christians:
For all the saints who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might;
Thou, Lord, their captain in the well-fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true light.But, lo, there breaks a yet more glorious day:
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of Glory passes on His way.From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
Singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost:Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
— “For All the Saints,” LSB 677:1-2, 7-8.
Notes:
- Remember Their Names.
- The icon of the 21 martyrs of Libya is by Tony Rezk.
Light from Light 
The image of those brave Christains on the Libyan shoreline was memorably haunting. I’ve thought of it often as I had never seen anything quite like it before or since. It made me wonder were that scenario ever to happen to me, would I be able to face it with the same bravery those poor souls did? The cool thing is – while their heartless killers simply saw their barbaric deed as a way to shock the world and Christains, in particular- for the past year those staunch believers have enjoyed the many mansions prepared for them. It ended their lives in this world but an began eternity in paradise. While we may not suffer that same fate at the hands of terrorists, I pray the end result is the same. I’ll look forward to meeting them and others one day. To that end, I press on! Thank you, Mr. Techlin and Pr. Harrison, for remembering them too.