Max says:
"This reminds me of a trellis code modulation!"
1 Corinthians 6:18-20, Matthew 20: 28
Psalm 30:4-12
"(...)the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to
give his life as a ransom for many."
I have chosen a depressing topic for this week's devotion, but
it is a real problem that many people face, so I thought I would
address it. I have friends who have contemplated and attempted
suicide, and I think it is important to share what the scripture says
about it. If you truly believe in Christ, suicide is not an option.
I once knew an autistic man who made up this little song:
"Suicide...suicide...don't take your life in your own hands...don't
jump off that television tower!..." I laughed at him for singing it,
but suicide is a serious problem. We as Christians have to deal with
people who have attempted or are contemplating suicide, or some of us
may have depression and be thinking about it ourselves.
But the gospel tells us that we have been given a gift of life.
John 3:16 tells us that if we believe in Christ, we will not perish,
but have everlasting life. John 3:36 repeats the fact that we have
life in Christ if we believe. And again, Romans 8:32 reminds us that
Christ was sacrificed to save us.
It is true that there are many verses that say things like, `he
who loses his life for my sake will find it (Matt 10:39),' but people
who use these verses to advocate suicide should not be trusted. This
is what happened before the Heaven's Gate mass suicide. These verses
speak about martyrdom, not suicide. There is a difference.
Suicide is a coward's death. It means that a person is not brave
enough to face the challenges of life. Revelation 21:8 says that
cowards will be thrown into a lake of fire. Suicide is also murder.
Although 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 speaks about adultery, suicide is
sinning against your own body, too. This is repeated in 1 Corinthians
3:16-17. And how can you beg for forgiveness for such an act?
So, like it says in Galatians 5:25, "If we live by the Spirit, let
us also walk by the Spirit." Let none of us be so selfish as to
reject God's precious gift of life, but let us live to share the
gospel with others, even if these people threaten our very lives.
Lord Jesus, you have given us the sacred gift of life, and the gift of your own precious life. You have also put the Holy Spirit into our hearts. So please work in our hearts and minds so that we accept this gift and use it to carry out your purpose for us on this earth. Please work in the hearts of our friends, those who don't want to live and help them to know and accept the gift of life you have given to them. Please protect us from harming ourselves and other people, and help us to use our abilities to share our love with each other. Amen.