Contributor:
Glenn Stewart
Creation
In Genesis 1:27, the Bible states, “that we as humans are made in the image of God.” In times where we feel inadequate or feel as if no one cares, just reflect on this scripture. God cared enough about you that he made you in His own image. This verse should give you the encouragement needed to know how you were created. Now to address why we were created. God created us to know him and love him and show him. In a sense, God was being a little selfish because he created humans just to praise him. If we do not praise him, then he said in Luke chapter 19 that if Christ’s disciples were silent then the rocks will cry out. How important are we in Christ’s eyes? Jesus said is Matthew 10:29-31“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” We are the most important created being Christ has and his most valued because we are the only created thing created in God’s Image. If we can fully grasp that we are made in God’s image and are set apart to worship him with our lives, then we will fully grasp why we were created.
Life-Itself
I do not believe I have ever heard someone say life is easy. From the time, we are born to the time we die, we are in a constant battle with something in our life. At a young age, we go through things that we felt as difficult and never will be able to overcome it, but we know as we get older and life gives us more responsibilities, life gets harder itself. As a teenager in today’s world, the action of drug and alcohol abuse and other things tend to be the normal. Depression begins to sink in because bullying starts and terrible home lives are involved. The students feel like there is nothing good in their lives. They hear people telling them they will never amount to anything so they believe it and depression sinks in. John Piper says, “For most of us, depression is an indication of what we are believing. Let us not listen to the darkness and it’s seductive, hope-depleting half-truthed lies. It leads to a black hole. Listen to and move toward the Light. Light will dawn for those who trust him (Psalm 112:4). It’s a promise.” To assist with his explanation, Psalm 112:4 says, “Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.”
If we focus on Christ and his ways he will set us apart and pull us out of the darkness into light. Jesus says in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Those three things I would venture out and say we all want as we go through life. We all want the proper way to live and the best way to life. We all want the full truth because the truth sets us free. Finally, deep down, we all want an amazing life. God says in Deuteronomy 30:19, “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you, life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore, choose life, that you and your offspring may live” When life gets tough just know we have a Savior who came to earth, suffered, died, resurrected so that we may have life and have it more abundantly through him. Faith in Christ is the key to having that life.
My Story: My sister attempted suicide about 3 years ago, she was a sophomore in high school. She felt as if she couldn’t amount to anything and had no good in her life. Her depression set in and she fully believed what depression told her. She tried to kill herself with her and my little sister at home along with her. She thought people wouldn’t care if she was gone. My uncle had that same thought two years before when I caught him setting the scene for suicide. I have been through the suffering of a loss because of suicide because my grandfather did it in 1999. The pain seems unbearable to the person committing the action but their pain on this earth is finished with the act but the people who care have to suffer as long as they live.
After-Life
The goal as a Christian is to walk into the gates of heaven whenever that time comes. Now, even though it is a goal, I do not believe we should rush it. There is a lot of discussions saying that God allowed suicide to happen or that was their appointed time to go. I am not going to debate those things here. What I am going to say is this. I believe we all have a plan and a purpose for living. Jeremiah 29:11 says so. God has plans for us to prosper and of hope and not to perish. As I pray that those two young students, one from Sullivan South and one from Sullivan East, were saved and are now with Jesus forever, I want to leave you with an encouraging scripture on the after-life. If you are struggling with death or even someone committing suicide, I want you to find comfort in these few scriptures concerning the after-life. John 11:25 — Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, John 16:22 — So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. Revelation 21:4 — He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
As I wrap up, let’s be clear now. John Piper said, “Self-murder is serious. We are playing with fire here. It is spiritually and eternally serious to murder yourself. It is not a light thing. And anyone listening to me now who is contemplating suicide should hear me say: Don’t do it. There is a better way. I promise you, in the name of Jesus Christ, there is a better way. You don’t feel that, perhaps, right now, but your feelings are not true. They are deceiving you. It is true that God has another way for you. He always makes another way. Wait for him and seek the help you need, because the Bible is very serious about talking of murder.” I had a friend commit suicide my senior year of high school, my grandfather did it when I was five and I have seen my uncle and sister both attempt it before I was there to stop and save them. As I wrap up this note, I want to say this. I am here to help you in any way whether that is because you are grieving over a loss or you are contemplating suicide and I am here to always pray for you and walk it out through the whole process. Remember what 1 Corinthians 6:20 says, “for you were bought with a price. So, glorify God in your body.”
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