Legacy of Lies
October 13
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.
Matthew 10:28
Standing in the receiving line at the funeral home, Lori’s family was coming to grips with her suicide. As heartrending as it was unexpected, the void left by her decision brought more questions than answers.
Believing she had been an utter disappointment as well as a burden, Lori had become a casualty of spiritual warfare. At fifty-four, she had fought a valiant fight, warring against the demons of addiction. It was a battle that had lasted most of her adult life.
In a perpetual state of mind that lent itself to chaos, feelings of failure and inadequacy fueled her guilt and remorse, telling her she would always be a disappointment to people, especially those who loved her most. So Lori made a decision to end the incessant cycle of failure, believing her physical absence would bring less pain in the long run, and Satan succeeded in preventing another child of God from fulfilling her earthly purpose.
†
Suicide brings an un-spoken legacy of lies that condemn the person to spiritual death. But Scripture says nothing that would lead me to believe Lori, or anyone else who has given their heart to Christ prior to their death, lost her salvation because of her actions.
Suicide reveals a perceived hopelessness where the victim believes they are beyond help…even God’s. It is a state of mind that is driven to self-impose judgment to atone for their inadequacy. We cannot comprehend the emotional fragility in their final days of life.
In God’s eyes, salvation is based on one act alone…our response to Jesus Christ. Hebrews 10:14 says that Jesus brought salvation ‘forever’ to those who have accepted Him as Savior; not until we commit some contrived irreconcilable sin.
I find enough mercy and grace throughout scripture to offer this hope: Though there will be unanswerable questions as a result of suicide, we can take solace in the knowledge that we will see them in Heaven as long as we have accepted Jesus into our own heart.
Prayer
“Lord, be with those who have felt the pain of losing someone to suicide. Speak Your truth to them, and hold them while they grieve. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
No comments:
Post a Comment