Libya (MNN) — The Islamic State isn’t in the news cycle as often as it used to be. In 2014 and 2015, the group formerly known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria was topping headlines almost every day.
Todd Nettleton with The Voice of the Martyrs USA says, “If you look back 10 years ago, ISIS was a fearful thing across much of the Middle East.”
The terrorists’ violent campaign against Christians featured one memorable execution on a beach in Libya. “Most of us remember seeing this epic video of these men being marched out on the beach and then being beheaded,” Nettleton says.
“ISIS intended it to create fear, but in reality, [it] backfired on ISIS.”
Twenty-one men wearing orange jumpsuits were handcuffed and forced to kneel on the sand before their captors. Islamic State terrorists gave the men one final choice.
“These Christians had an opportunity to convert to Islam and go free, or at least live, and yet all of them refused that opportunity. All of them stayed true to Christ to the very end,” Nettleton says.
Instead of striking fear into the global Body of Christ, “thousands, and even millions of people, have been inspired by the faithfulness of these martyrs.”
Find your place in the story
While the Islamic State does not pose quite the same danger today as it did a decade ago, “there are threats against Christians still today, 10 years later,” Nettleton says.
“It might not be filmed in a sort of epic style. But absolutely, there are Christians right now whose lives are at risk because of radical Islamists.”
For example, Nettleton continues, “The Taliban is in charge in Afghanistan,” and their militant rule poses a serious threat to anyone claiming to follow Christ. Furthermore, he adds, “You have an Islamist group that is now forming a government in Syria. What is that going to look like for Christians there?”
Ask the Lord to help secret believers persevere in Afghanistan. Pray for strength for Syrian Christians.
How can you stand for your faith today? “The takeaway for us as believers in Christ is [to] stand strong to the very end,” Nettleton says.
“Whatever your race is, finish well, and stand for Jesus until your last breath.”
Visit VOM USA’s website for more ways to support persecuted Christians.
Header image courtesy of the 8thirty8 Facebook page circa 2015.
