The Death of a Follower of Christ

If you have been following the news in Israel over the past week, you heard about the senseless attack on two women who were hiking in a national park near Beit Shemesh. American Kristine Luken (left) was killed, and Kay Wilson, an Israeli resident of Givat Ze'ev was seriously wounded. The two attackers have now been apprehended.

The part of the story that will not appear in most accounts is the fact that both women are followers of Jesus. Kristine worked for CMJ (Church's Ministry Among Jewish People), and Kay is the main educator for Shoresh Study Tours, a ministry of Christ Church Jerusalem.

Believers in Christ do not mourn as those who have no hope, but they still struggle to say goodbye to a love one--even when they know that person is now in heaven. Kristine's family will spend this holiday season arranging for the funeral of a loved one who was taken away so suddenly. These are times when the words of Psalm 116:15 ring so true. "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints."

The CMJ website has posted a statement on the attack, and their final paragraph is worth repeating here. It is both a fitting testimony for Kristen...and a reminder for us that success in life is measured not by the number of years we live, but by our level of faithfulness during those years. "In life Kristine was a faithful follower of Jesus and gave herself fully to the work of her Lord. In the midst of grief and great sorrow, we know Kristine’s life and work were not in vain and we take comfort in the promise of eternal life through the resurrection of Jesus the Messiah."

Amen.