Murder, Death and Suicide – What does the Bible say about it? – Part 2
All are affected by death, all ages and all demographics. As the Bible says, “We are all pronounced once to die” (Hebrews 9:27). I have been affected by death and suicidal thoughts…, especially during some of the most trying times in life, as a growing adolescent and into my young adulthood. And these thoughts are not unique to this generation, as the Bible says, “There is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). So what are we to do about these types of thoughts and the topic of death in general? This week I will discuss the topic of death, using the Bible as the go to reference book of choice…cont’d.
Jesus said one statement about how we ought to think about our lives, in comparison to our relationship with Him that may on some level explain the “extreme” thoughts that may come into our heads about taking our own lives. He said, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate … their own life–such a person cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26). Now of course He was not talking about committing suicide, because how could those apostles be disciples of Jesus at the time or at any time if they took their lives, before they learned what it means to actually live for Jesus? But the point is, Jesus is not asking us to “kill” ourselves literally, but to give our own life; soul, mind and body, to Him. So that we can be used for His glory in this world! Which is a form of dying, not to God and our own spirit, but to the world and its ways and our own selfish desires of human control, this is the key. Sometimes when we are struggling with thoughts of murder, death or suicide, the most important thing we need to do is reach out to God in prayer, and submit our minds, bodies and souls to Him for deliverance. Not trusting in our own actions to calm our temporary “torment” of the mind or body (Proverbs 3:5, 6, Philippians 3:8-11). Because, Jesus is the great physician of the Mind, Body and Soul!
More to come…
Darrell
darrellmowat.wordpress.com 