Can Someone Who Commits Suicide Go to Heaven?
(10/4/18) This is a topic that hits so close to many of us. There are few things as painful as when a close loved one chooses to take their own life before their time, leaving us behind to piece together the hurt, anguish, guilt, and confusion. The reason you are reading this however is because you are looking for biblical truth. I have full faith that the Lord knows our hearts and I hope to bring comfort to you in saying there is real HOPE.
Who goes to Heaven?
The Bible says this:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16
This seems very clear, doesn't it? WHOEVER believes in him, should not perish. This means that the same rule applies to everyone, no matter how that person dies. It doesn't say that if you are blameless and without sin, you get to go, but only those who believe.
The Truth
The reasons for someone wanting to commit suicide can greatly vary. Depression and mental illness, grief, inadequacy, and coping problems are all sources of suicide. A person is never in their right mind when making this choice. It is only after much struggle and personal battles that a person would consider suicide. It is through God's saving grace that a person in this state can be convinced to turn back. Just because a person's life was so painful that they made this option, doesn't mean they didn't wholeheartedly believe Jesus would save them and may have spent years asking for deliverance. In death, we are given a new spiritual body. We will be able to think clearly again and it is with a rational mind that we will be able to account for our sins. It is there, on the other side, and at the time of judgment, when a person must face eternal life or death. It is not how we died that determines this, however, our life choices leading up to death. This is the same process for all people no matter what.
Unintended Consequences
Many years back I got to know a young lady through online correspondence. She was about 20 years old and one of the struggles she had was that her sister had committed suicide. She explained how it greatly affected their mother and out of grief, her mother then also turned to suicide for an answer. Can you imagine the level of grief and sadness she must have gone through? Through that grief, she had made some sinful choices that greatly affected her spiritual well-being. She felt alone, grief-stricken, and spiritually dead. Satan used the powerful negative emotion from her sister's suicide to continue and destroy life after life. Several months after having a few discussions with her, I found out she had also committed suicide.
I have never forgotten the destructive power that suicide can have on the people who knew that person, for some taking years of therapy. It is so important to recognize and turn to the Lord long before we are tested so our shields can be strong enough to do battle. There is real HOPE however that it is through our belief in Jesus that we are saved no matter what. He paid the price for our sin so we could have eternal life. Know that the Lord our God is merciful and will save all those who believe in him.
If you are considering suicide, know that it is through Jesus that you can be ultimately saved both physically and spiritually. You are more important, loved, and valuable than you know. Please visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or call 1-800-273-8255 and talk to someone today if you are feeling overwhelmed with life and need someone to talk to.
Author: Jason L. Cook - Searchlight Christian Organization
Copyright Date: 10/4/18
Who goes to Heaven?
The Bible says this:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16
This seems very clear, doesn't it? WHOEVER believes in him, should not perish. This means that the same rule applies to everyone, no matter how that person dies. It doesn't say that if you are blameless and without sin, you get to go, but only those who believe.
The Truth
The reasons for someone wanting to commit suicide can greatly vary. Depression and mental illness, grief, inadequacy, and coping problems are all sources of suicide. A person is never in their right mind when making this choice. It is only after much struggle and personal battles that a person would consider suicide. It is through God's saving grace that a person in this state can be convinced to turn back. Just because a person's life was so painful that they made this option, doesn't mean they didn't wholeheartedly believe Jesus would save them and may have spent years asking for deliverance. In death, we are given a new spiritual body. We will be able to think clearly again and it is with a rational mind that we will be able to account for our sins. It is there, on the other side, and at the time of judgment, when a person must face eternal life or death. It is not how we died that determines this, however, our life choices leading up to death. This is the same process for all people no matter what.
Unintended Consequences
Many years back I got to know a young lady through online correspondence. She was about 20 years old and one of the struggles she had was that her sister had committed suicide. She explained how it greatly affected their mother and out of grief, her mother then also turned to suicide for an answer. Can you imagine the level of grief and sadness she must have gone through? Through that grief, she had made some sinful choices that greatly affected her spiritual well-being. She felt alone, grief-stricken, and spiritually dead. Satan used the powerful negative emotion from her sister's suicide to continue and destroy life after life. Several months after having a few discussions with her, I found out she had also committed suicide.
I have never forgotten the destructive power that suicide can have on the people who knew that person, for some taking years of therapy. It is so important to recognize and turn to the Lord long before we are tested so our shields can be strong enough to do battle. There is real HOPE however that it is through our belief in Jesus that we are saved no matter what. He paid the price for our sin so we could have eternal life. Know that the Lord our God is merciful and will save all those who believe in him.
If you are considering suicide, know that it is through Jesus that you can be ultimately saved both physically and spiritually. You are more important, loved, and valuable than you know. Please visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or call 1-800-273-8255 and talk to someone today if you are feeling overwhelmed with life and need someone to talk to.
Author: Jason L. Cook - Searchlight Christian Organization
Copyright Date: 10/4/18