The Ultimate
Theft: Suicide
Suicide is the ultimate thief not because
it steals a man’s salvation, but rather because it steals from man the great
gift of life that God has given. The Lord gives life and the Lord takes life
away. The importance of the subject of
suicide is not to bring comfort for those who have lost members of their family
or close friends to suicide because that cannot be done. When life is taken,
sadness is automatic. It is to be expected as part of earth’s processes in it’s
fallen state.
The question “Can a person commit suicide
and still go to heaven?’’ does not have as much to do with suicide as it does
the issue of salvation. How a person is saved will determine how long a person
will keep his salvation. Whether a person can lose their salvation or not will
be determined by a proper understanding of what it means to be saved and how
one gets to that position.
If salvation can be lost through an act of
sin, then salvation is dependent upon human conduct or works. If salvation is
dependent upon works, then it is not dependent exclusively upon the work of
Christ. If salvation is dependent upon works, then it is not the salvation
described in the Bible. The teaching
that an individual’s salvation is probationary {uncertain until sufficient
works are evidenced} comes from a “Sword of Damocles” theology. The attempt
here is to create faithfulness through fear.
This is not the plan of God or the message of the Bible.
Once salvation is properly understood, the
issue of suicide and security goes away. Salvation is gained and secured
through the work of Christ alone. Once that is understood, then the threat of
human failure due to sin is gone. To the question, “What can take away my sin?”
we sing, “Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” To the question, “What can take away
my salvation?” we ought to sing, “Nothing but nothing!”
The great prophet Elijah became depressed
to the point of wanting to die, but suicide was never considered ( I Kings
19:4). Who in the Bible would have had greater justification to be suicidal
than Job and yet he never considers it. Instead he says, “Naked came I out of
my mother's womb, and naked shall I
return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the
name of the Lord.” ( Job 1:21) To take life is to steal from God. This is never
a good idea.
Suicide is the direct opposite of God’s
purpose and plan for our life. We are to live to glorify Him. We are to live to
bring Him pleasure. We are to live to bear witness to He fact that He has given
us an abundant life. Suicide is the ultimate selfish act. It leaves everyone
behind in shame, hurt, grief and confusion. Suicide is the ultimate mistake
because it assumes that things beyond the grave will be better, but they won’t.
Facing God’s judgment for this foolish act could never be better than the pains
and problems of this life.
The way
that we shall approach this subject is not to look at the negative side of the
subject, but rather to look at the joy that was rejected. If we can correct
faulty thinking, perhaps we can
prevent this ultimate error. The life that God has provided is to be lived to
the fullest with anticipation of meeting God.
The Ultimate
Theft: Suicide
“He went away and hanged
himself”
Matthew 27:5
I.
Sanctity of Life in the Bible
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b.
c.
d.
e.
II.
Review of Reality
a.
b.
c.
d.
III.
Seven reasons to fight for life
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.