10 Oct, 2007

We don't know each of their stories...

...but God does.

One Shooting Victim Was A High School Freshman

CRANDON, Wis. — The victims of an off-duty deputy's shooting spree were students or graduates of the same high school, and had gathered for pizza and movies on homecoming weekend. Here is a look at the youngest victim:

LINDSEY STAHL

Lindsey Stahl's mother let her daughter sleep over at a friend's house Saturday night — it was homecoming weekend.

The 14-year-old, a freshman and the youngest of the those killed, was a vegetarian, said her mother, Jenny Stahl, 39.

"She didn't eat meat," Stahl said. "That is what a lot of people know her for. She was an animal rights activist."

She also was interested in global warming, said her half-brother, Ryan Coulter, 12. "She probably would have changed the world, you know," he told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

The family moved to northern Wisconsin about 10 years ago from Kenosha, in the southeastern part of the state.

photo & story courtesy foxnews.com, 10/9/07

Daniel 12:1-2 (NLT)

The Time of the End

“At that time Michael, the archangel who stands guard over your nation, will arise. Then there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence. But at that time every one of your people whose name is written in the book will be rescued. 2 Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace.

What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about the reality of eternity for everyone?

First of all, look at the insight from the study notes found in Tyndale's LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE:

12:1 Great suffering is in store for God's people throughout the years ahead. This way of describing the future is also used by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 30:7) and Jesus (Matthew 24:21ff). Yet the great suffering is tempered by a great promise of hope for true believers. 12:2 This is a clear reference to the resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked, although the eternal destiny of each will be quite different...This reference to a bodily resurrection of both the saved and the lost was a sharp departure from the common belief of the Israelites at that time.

Here's the deal - these prophetic words remind us that everyone has an eternal soul. Anyone who receives God's gift of salvation (forgiveness for our sins) through the sacrificial death and resurrection of His Son Jesus will have their name written in God's "book of life". Those who do not become followers of Christ will not be rescued from eternal separation from God in hell.

Yeah....sobering...and cause for joy for followers of Christ!

At this moment, the loving, living God knows whose name is written in His book of eternal life in Heaven.

God created and loved everyone who died at the hands of the angry young deputy sheriff in Wisconsin last weekend and He loved the killer too. I don't know the stories of those who died or what they believed about Jesus Christ, but God does.

His heart breaks for the lost.... His arms have welcomed His children... He continues to comfort and draw people to Jesus...

How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?

  • If your name is written in God's "book of eternal life", take a moment right now to thank God and imagine what it will be like to live forever in Heaven with Jesus and all of God's family.
  • If you are not a follower of Jesus, you can become one right now. Let God know that you realize your sin keeps you from Him. Thank Him that Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins and that He rose from the dead to prove that He alone is the Savior! Ask Jesus to be your Savior. Tell Him that you want to follow Him every day and live to please Him. (If this is you, email us at 3Story.org so that we can help you in your new relationship with God.)
  • Read Matthew 24 and Revelation 21 to learn more about the future of everyone - those whose names are written in the "Lamb's Book of Life" and those whose names are not.

How can connect today's story, God's Story scripture and our story to others?

  • Continue to pray that the families and friends of those connected to the Wisconsin shootings. Pray that they will experience God's comfort and the hope that is found only in Jesus Christ.
  • Ask Jesus to give you great wisdom and sensitivity in talking to your friends and family who need Jesus. It may be very difficult for them to think about the eternal reality of every soul while thinking about the young people killed in Wisconsin. Focus on God's compassion, grace and answers found in Christ.
  • As more info becomes available about the victims in the Wisconsin shootings, be ready to use this as a conversation starter with others about the idea of everyone having a story. Let Jesus lead the conversation as you connect their story, your story and God's Story.
Permanent Link
comments

Ornament
God's Story is brought to you by Youth for Christ. YFC works with young people on campus and in the community in over one hundred countries around the world so that they might have an opportunity to become a follower of Christ and be a part of a local church.

Our writer, Byron Emmert, has been with YFC for over 30 years and has served as Campus Life Staff, in leadership for DCLA, and as an author and speaker. Byron is available for speaking at youth or adult events and conferences. For booking, write to byron@3Story.org.

Byron and his wife Linda live in Minnesota and their family includes two married sons and daughters-in-law, a grandaughter, and a daughter in college. He loves sports, deep dish pizza, and spending time with his family.