Rachel became a Christian when she was 12 and was given her first journal when she was 16. She wrote regularly of her faith commitment to Jesus, her love for Jesus---and what this loving faith cost her.
At one point, she broke up with a boy she loved in order to keep herself pure. Later, she was spurned by 5 close friends for speaking 'too openly' about her faith. On April 20,1998, she wrote: "I have no more personal friends at school. But.., it's worth it to me..If I have to sacrifice everything, I will."
On April 20, 1999, Rachel sat outside the cafeteria when 2 maniacal students armed with guns sprinted up the stairs at Columbine High School. They opened fire, shooting Rachel Scott 3 times. After leaving to shoot more victims, they returned to where Rachel lay writhing in pain. One of them pulled up her head by her ponytail and barked: "Do you believe in God?!" When Rachel answered "Yes.", he put the gun to her temple and pulled the trigger.
Throughout the annals of Church history, there have been occasions when God has spectacularly protected His servants and preserved their lives; Columbine was not one of those occasions. Rachel's young life was snuffed out and--for the most part--- it was a lonely life. Never to be married, having few close friends. Murdered as a target of frenzied, misguided violence.
Furthermore, we read of occasions in the New Testament when the Christian faith proved to be a hazardous faith. Sometimes God acted to shield His people from harm; at other times God did not.
Observe Acts 12:1-2- "Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword."
Herod brutally killed James with the sword. And God let it happen.
For many people even in our time, in various parts of the world, the Christian faith proves to be hazardous. People suffer, are imprisoned, tortured to death in many cases, simply because they believe in and belong to the Savior. This Savior was rejected and tortured to death. This Messiah was brutally executed for being the very Truth of God.
After his daughter died horribly, a churchgoer asked his pastor: "Where was God when my daughter was killed?" The pastor quietly replied: "I suppose He was in the same place as when His own Son was killed."
Jesus Christ died in place of sinners, bearing the Divine punishment we deserve. And God made it happen.
In terms of earthly life, some might view Rachel Scott's life and death as a tragic waste.
Yet, the words of the Psalmist are relevant here: "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints" (Ps.116:15) and "In Your Presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." (Ps.16:11).
Additionally, we have the grand faith statement of the apostle Paul: "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Phil.1:21). This is no promotion of suicide, but rather an affirmation of trust in both the glory of Christ and the wonderful Provision of a heavenly realm.
The Christian faith can become an extremely hazardous faith in the here and now. Even so, the life to come will be a glorious existence of gain because of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Alexander MacLaren expressed it in these terms:
"Let us leave for ourselves, and for all dear ones, that question of living or dying, to Gods decision. Only let us be sure that whether our lives be long or short, "living or dying we are the Lord's." [Rom.14:8]. And then, whatever be the length of life or the manner of death, both will bring us the fulfillment of our highest wishes, and will lead us to His side at whose hand all those shall sit who have loved Him here, and, though long parted, shall be reunited in common enjoyment of the pleasures which forevermore bloom unfading there."
At one point, she broke up with a boy she loved in order to keep herself pure. Later, she was spurned by 5 close friends for speaking 'too openly' about her faith. On April 20,1998, she wrote: "I have no more personal friends at school. But.., it's worth it to me..If I have to sacrifice everything, I will."
On April 20, 1999, Rachel sat outside the cafeteria when 2 maniacal students armed with guns sprinted up the stairs at Columbine High School. They opened fire, shooting Rachel Scott 3 times. After leaving to shoot more victims, they returned to where Rachel lay writhing in pain. One of them pulled up her head by her ponytail and barked: "Do you believe in God?!" When Rachel answered "Yes.", he put the gun to her temple and pulled the trigger.
Throughout the annals of Church history, there have been occasions when God has spectacularly protected His servants and preserved their lives; Columbine was not one of those occasions. Rachel's young life was snuffed out and--for the most part--- it was a lonely life. Never to be married, having few close friends. Murdered as a target of frenzied, misguided violence.
Furthermore, we read of occasions in the New Testament when the Christian faith proved to be a hazardous faith. Sometimes God acted to shield His people from harm; at other times God did not.
Observe Acts 12:1-2- "Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword."
Herod brutally killed James with the sword. And God let it happen.
For many people even in our time, in various parts of the world, the Christian faith proves to be hazardous. People suffer, are imprisoned, tortured to death in many cases, simply because they believe in and belong to the Savior. This Savior was rejected and tortured to death. This Messiah was brutally executed for being the very Truth of God.
After his daughter died horribly, a churchgoer asked his pastor: "Where was God when my daughter was killed?" The pastor quietly replied: "I suppose He was in the same place as when His own Son was killed."
Jesus Christ died in place of sinners, bearing the Divine punishment we deserve. And God made it happen.
In terms of earthly life, some might view Rachel Scott's life and death as a tragic waste.
Yet, the words of the Psalmist are relevant here: "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints" (Ps.116:15) and "In Your Presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." (Ps.16:11).
Additionally, we have the grand faith statement of the apostle Paul: "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Phil.1:21). This is no promotion of suicide, but rather an affirmation of trust in both the glory of Christ and the wonderful Provision of a heavenly realm.
The Christian faith can become an extremely hazardous faith in the here and now. Even so, the life to come will be a glorious existence of gain because of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Alexander MacLaren expressed it in these terms:
"Let us leave for ourselves, and for all dear ones, that question of living or dying, to Gods decision. Only let us be sure that whether our lives be long or short, "living or dying we are the Lord's." [Rom.14:8]. And then, whatever be the length of life or the manner of death, both will bring us the fulfillment of our highest wishes, and will lead us to His side at whose hand all those shall sit who have loved Him here, and, though long parted, shall be reunited in common enjoyment of the pleasures which forevermore bloom unfading there."
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