Victors at Umpqua Community College

2015-10-04 Pastor's Corner

My heart aches for family and friends of the professor and eight students killed this past Thursday. It also hurts for those whose sense of safety has been forever shattered. I don’t wish to be opportunistic, but I do want to say something that many won’t. I want to share the truth about losing your life for Christ.

Multiple reports stated that the shooter asked victims if they were Christians. Those who said “yes” were executed, those who said “no” or refused to answer were only wounded. Amazingly … several news reports I looked at said the motive for the shootings was “unclear.” It seems pretty clear to me.

As I pondered the deaths of these students, I realized that the first student that was asked, “Are you a Christian?” probably had a good idea what was coming. Those asked subsequently had no doubt. Still, they said “Yes.” They consciously chose to identify with Jesus Christ knowing they would be killed.

The shooter left a document in which he reportedly talked about being “embraced by the devil” and “welcomed into hell.” We should not be surprised that such atrocities would carry the fingerprints of Satan. Jesus said, “he was a murderer from the beginning.” (John 8:44) Satan was behind this mass murderer, but he was not, nor will he be the victor. Those slain were his victims … but they did not lose, nor were they beaten.

Jesus guaranteed, “whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.” (Mark 8:35) Revelation offers us further insight on our fallen brothers and sisters in Oregon:

Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. (Rev. 2:10)

They triumphed over him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. (Rev. 12:11)



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