Faith That Defied the Sword: The Martyrs of Libya
It was a haunting image—21 men in orange jumpsuits, kneeling on a beach in Libya, with black-clad executioners standing behind them. The world watched in horror as ISIS broadcast their brutal execution in 2015, a chilling reminder of the relentless persecution Christians face. Yet, in the face of terror, these men did not deny Jesus. They held fast to their faith, even as they stared death in the eyes.
A new documentary film, “The 21,” tells their story with reverence, ensuring that their sacrifice will not be forgotten. But more importantly, their testimony should stir us to action.
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Among them was a man from Ghana, who wasn’t originally among the Egyptian Christians captured. When given the chance to walk away, he refused. “Their God is my God,” he said, choosing to stand with his brothers in Christ rather than save his own life.
For weeks—perhaps months—before their execution, these men were tortured. They were electrocuted, doused in freezing water and burdened with back-breaking labor. They were offered their freedom in exchange for renouncing Jesus. Not one did. And so, they met their fate, their final words a whispered declaration: “Ya Rab Yesua”—O Lord Jesus.
The Crown of Life
What kind of faith does it take to hold firm when death is certain? Jesus Himself answered this question: “For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it,” (Matt. 16:25, MEV).
These 21 men did not lose their lives—they gained eternity. They are now among the great cloud of witnesses, robed in white, standing before the throne of God. Revelation 7:14-15 describes them well:
“These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple.”
The world saw their deaths, but heaven saw their victory.
A Faith That Speaks
Perhaps even more incredible than their sacrifice is the response of their families. Many of their widows publicly forgave the ISIS militants who took their husbands. They did not respond with hatred or revenge, but with faith and love. They stood as living testaments to Christ’s words in Matthew 5:44: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
How can we, as believers, ignore such a testimony? We may not be called to lay down our lives as they did, but we are all called to stand boldly for Christ. Their story is not one of defeat, but of faith—a faith that overcame fear, that stared down the sword and saw eternity beyond it.
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James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
