There is trouble in this world, and it is full of turmoil and anguish. We are overcome by injustice and people who can steal from the needy and the poor. There are people in the world who will mock the widow and ridicule the orphan. There are broken hearts, ruined marriages, and lives left in absolute desolation. This is pervasive, across everybody in our world, no matter what religion or nationality or social stature or wealth. Everybody in this world encounters trouble and acknowledges that things are not the way they are supposed to be. Everything that men encounter cries out “FALLEN, FALLEN, FALLEN.”
However, we often do not know how to deal with that. We are left with horrible negative feelings, and are led to the conclusion that life is not worth it anymore. People contemplate, and do commit suicide. However, I think there are at least 5 reasons you shouldn’t commit suicide.
1 – God loves you so much.
When I say that God loves you, I know this is something that you have most likely heard before, perhaps read it on a poster or a meme. But just consider it with me for a moment. Scientists have discovered that there are about as many stars in our universe as there are grains of sand on the beach on the earth. Between each grain of sand, there is about 300 million miles. The Creator of all of that loves you so much.
How has he demonstrated this love? This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us, so much, that he sent his Son to be the sacrifice for our sins. God became a man, Jesus of Nazareth, and allowed himself to be murdered, absorbing the punishment for sin that we deserve. God loves you and desperately wants a relationship with you. He calls out, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” You should not commit suicide because God has something so great for you, that “these light momentary afflictions are preparing you for an eternal weight of glory that will outweigh them all.” (2 Cor 4:17).
2 – There are Christians who love you so much.
Perhaps Christians are the reason that you are considering suicide. Perhaps you are a homosexual and you have suffered persecution and harm at the hands of those who claim to be Christians. Perhaps the reputation of Christianity has been smeared in your sight. But there are Christians, who, without knowing you, love you and would help you, if they knew of your struggles. Have you ever heard of phrases like, ‘the body of Christ’?
This phrase is meant to illustrate how close and loving Christians are. They are united, as a family, of which God is the head. The entire moral system of Christian theology can be summarized as follows: You shall love the Lord with all of your heart, with all of your soul, and with all of your mind. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Those who have been born again love you as much as they love yourself. If you are in pain, they will regard it with such urgency as though they, themselves, were in pain. They love you, even though you did not earn their love. Because Christ loved them (and you) even while you were a sinner. You should not commit suicide because you can find communion and fellowship with God’s people, and be part of a family.
3 – Christ has overcome this world.
Jesus said this: “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome this world.” This means that there will be problems. Christ does not promise a perfect life. Christ promises that the world will hate you. He promises that it will contend against you because you are his follower. He promises not peace, but a sword. Not a literal sword, but a sword of division. People will leave your life because you are standing for what is objectively true.
In this world, you will have trouble. But we can take heart, because the Lord Jesus Christ has overcome this world. He defeated death, when he rose from the dead. We can have full assurance that while we are in strife and turmoil, we will be content because we have the Lord. When Jerusalem was burning, Jeremiah cried out, “The Lord is my portion, says my soul,” (Lamentations 3:24). So we will also say the same. When our enemies surround us, we can “rejoice in the day that the Lord has made.” (Psalm 118:24) You should not commit suicide because if you put all of your trust in him, you will not be disappointed.
4 – The Psalms
For times of turmoil and when our emotions have overcome us, many Christians and Jews have taken solace and comfort in the Psalms. The Psalms are perhaps the greatest poetry every written, expressing God’s love for mankind, and an outpouring of the recesses of human emotion. In the Psalms, inspired by God, you will find comfort and truth. Just read Psalm 23.
The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
5 – He offers you eternal life.
The resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is the basis for our hope of eternal life. Just as he was raised from the dead, so we will also be raised from the dead. The moment we put our trust in the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, turn from our precious sins that we love so much, God will make us a new creature with new desires. We will literally be born again (John 3:3). Paul (one of the Bible writers) said, “it is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives through me.” (Gal 2:20).
So you do not have to die, and you do not have to live in turmoil. God offers you an eternity with him, living in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal 5:22-23). God will give this to you, and he so desperately wants to. It is not his will that any should perish (2 Pet 3:9). Jesus said this: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that those who believe in him shall never perish, but have everlasting life.”
If you would like to get in on the discussion about this, join my Theology Discussion Group!