Is Suicide the Answer?
People Take their own lives for a number of reasons. Sometimes it is done to hurt others or to get back at them for the way they have treated us. At other times, it is done in despair because our lives have been shattered and it seems there is no longer anything for which to live. Whatever the reason, IS SUICIDE REALLY THE ANSWER? The Bible, which is the Word of God, our Maker, clearly teaches that SUICIDE IS NOT THE RIGHT ANSWER TO THE MANY PROBLEMS OF LIFE! RATHER, TRUE FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST IS!
God says, "Thou
shalt not kill" (Exodus
No matter what one's reasons might be to consider suicide, the root cause is a lack of faith in God and His promises. Instead of trusting God to forgive our sins because His Son, Jesus Christ, suffered and died upon the cross for our sins and rose again, people despair and doubt God's promises to forgive them if they but turn to Him and trust in Christ their Savior. Instead of trusting in God to be with us and help us through the problems of life, people doubt God's promises and feel their problems are too great to receive help. We need always remember that there are no problems too great for the Almighty God!
In the Bible, we have the examples of Peter and Judas (Matthew 26:47-50,69--27:10). Peter denied knowing or having anything to do with the Lord Jesus, and Judas betrayed Jesus into the hands of His enemies. Both Peter and Judas were very sorry for what they had done. Peter trusted that the Lord would forgive his sin, but Judas despaired and went out and hanged himself. Jesus did forgive Peter, as God's Word promises; and Peter lived on to serve His Lord and Savior as an apostle. Judas too could have received forgiveness if he had only turned to Jesus in faith; but he instead committed suicide, dying in unbelief and sin, and was condemned to hell (cf. John 17:12; Acts 1:15ff.)! Suicide was not the right answer for Judas, nor is it the right answer for anyone today!
No matter how great our sins have been, God stands ready to forgive us if we but turn to Him. The Bible tells us: "For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee." (Psalm 86:5); and, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness....My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 1:9; 2:1,2). Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, bore the full punishment for our sins when He suffered and died upon the cross. For Jesus' sake, God is merciful and forgiving toward us sinners.
No matter how great our problems may be, God can help us through them all. He invites us to call upon Him. He says, "And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." (Psalm 50:15). He tells each of us to cast "all your care upon Him; for He careth for you" (1 Peter 5:7). And there is no problem too great; for the Bible says: "'Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: " (Jeremiah 32:17).
The Bible also tells those who trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28). If you are a Christian, if you believe that God forgives your sins and accepts you as His own dear child because of Jesus Christ's innocent sufferings and death in you place, then you have the assurance that all things--including the troubles in your life--will work together for your good!
So, if you, or someone you know, is contemplating suicide, remember that God says SUICIDE IS NOT THE ANSWER! Instead, turn to Him for the forgiveness of all sins and the needed help and strength to get through life's problems. For Jesus' sake, God stands ready to forgive and help!
The Still Small Voice