Do you know of someone who tried and succeeded to end his
life?
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| source:scriptmag.com |
Teenage suicides have grown exponentially worldwide―with bullying, including cyber-bullying,
as one of the major factors.
A website (save.org) notes that suicide is the tenth leading
cause of death for all ages in the US, with male deaths accounting for 79% of
all suicides. The World Health Organization (WHO): Suicide is the third leading
cause of death worldwide for those aged 15-44.
Depression is cited as the main
reason for committing suicide.
For most of us, these are just statistics. But what if your
son or daughter or any of your loved ones has been added to the numbers?
It is agonizing enough to lose a family member to cancer or
old age; what more if it's suicide? "I can't understand it. Why,
God?" would probably hound a parent facing such situation.
It is even more agonizing if we imagine suicide's
consequence. "Where would his soul go?" Because we know that suicide
(along with other sins such as pride, stealing, lust, lying, etc.―all of which the bible lumps
as "sin," no major or minor), puts one in a state of rebellion
against God; and a reason for
eternal separation from Him.
Romans 3:23―"For
everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard." But
let the rest of His Word help us make sense of it:
Proverbs 28:13 says that those who conceal their sins will
not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.
The gospel offers hope. I believe in my heart that if one asks
God for forgiveness, even
through his final breath, Jesus will save him―because
it's all by His grace!
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| source: chosenfamilies.org |
Ephesians 2:8-9―"For
by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is
the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.…"
Remember the thief hung on another cross beside Jesus? Luke
23:42-43:
"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom,”
he asked Jesus.
Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me
in paradise.”
A last minute plea! Yet Jesus promised to save him. Jesus
didn't ask questions, or imposed conditions. Seeing his repentant heart, He immediately
reached out with grace.
The love of God! That's the reason Jesus willingly died on
the cross―that while we
were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:7-8). God made him who had no
sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2
Corinthians 5:21).
Because if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and
will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9)―and ultimately save us from
hell.
His grace is rich―enough
to redeem us from sin through His blood! Ephesians 1:7.
Oh yes, it's like being saved through the skin of your
teeth. But that is Jesus! Full of grace and mercy, willing to reach out to the
very end.
A family mourned for a son who ended his life this way. He
once professed Jesus as his Lord and Savior; but somehow made wrong choices. Loved
ones never stopped praying.
I believe deep in my heart that their prayers have been
answered―that before this
beloved son breathed his last, Jesus offered him one last chance with His amazing,
unending grace.
"Grievous though my sin,
Jesus saves, Jesus saves!
A repentant, trusting heart,
that's all He asks of me."
Suicide always grieves us. It is difficult to understand. But as I was talking to one friend who was always in a state of depression, I sort of understood: "The pain inside in unexplainable; it is so great, so immense you really want to end it all." I keep praying that God gives her the strength not to cave in and end it all.
ReplyDeleteThere are just so many people nowadays who suffer from some form of depression. And none's immune, even seniors. Only by His grace can we have hope and decide that each new day is a blessing.
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