Why You Do Not Have to Commit Suicide

By Vic Gill

The following article that you are about to read comes to you as a broken-hearted, yet hopeful response to the string of suicides I have been hearing of late. It is becoming more and more common to hear of suicide stories on local radio, news pages and the evening news. Even Hollywood has picked up on the theme with the 2009 release of Will Smith’s ‘Seven Pounds’, which romanticises voluntary suicide. There are even fresh calls from many legal experts who feel suicide laws need a ‘radical shake-up’, with the recent case of multiple sclerosis sufferer, Debbie Purdy taking her fight to allow her husband to help her commit suicide to the House of Lords. And it was only yesterday that I learnt of the tragic suicide of Neil and Kazumi Puttick. Both committed suicide, carrying with them the body of their five year old son, Sam, who had died as a result of meningitis three days earlier. Their bodies were found under the cliffs at Beachy Head in Sussex, UK.

The grief of contemplating suicide or losing someone to suicide is something which many of us may never understand. But those who do understand will probably tell you the nightmarish hell, confusion and turmoil they experience. It’s heartbreaking to the core and words can’t even describe the horror of such an act, where seemingly normal lives have resorted to an act of sheer desperation. I don’t want to scrutinise these individual cases as it would be insensitive to do so. Instead, I endeavour to shed some light to suicide and the Christian response to it. This is never going to be a straightforward subject to write about. Perhaps words will not even do justice to this painful battle which society faces, but my hope is that through Gods Word; the Bible, I can share hope and persuade you that in Jesus Christ there is hope. If you are reading this article and know someone who is contemplating suicide or who has in some way shown signs or thoughts of suicide, then print this off and make sure they read it. If you yourself are reading this and have had thoughts of suicide, then I hope you would read this carefully and act upon it. You don’t have to commit suicide.

So what is going on? Why is there such a feeling of hopelessness? Is suicide really the only way out and the last option?

Suicide in the Bible
The Bible is so quickly discredited by many as being myth. They say it has no value and fails to answer today’s tough questions. I disagree strongly. The Bible is the only book which realistically offers hope and the truth. It doesn’t gloss over the dark issues of humanity but reveals full-blown the exact state of affairs. In the Bible we can read a real-life story of an individual who had thoughts of suicide. He was an individual who not only had thoughts of suicide, but he even brought himself to the stage of carrying out his own suicide. It’s the story of a Prison Officer.

“The crowd joined in the attack on Paul and Silas. Then the officials tore the clothes off the two men and ordered them to be beaten with a whip. After they had been badly beaten, they were put in jail, and the jailer was told to guard them carefully. The jailer did as he was told. He put them deep inside the jail and chained their feet to heavy blocks of wood. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God, while the other prisoners listened. Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the jail to its foundations. The doors opened, and the chains fell from all the prisoners. When the jailer woke up and saw that the doors were open, he thought that the prisoners had escaped. He pulled out his sword and was about to kill himself.” (Acts 16:22-27)

Similarly, there is another real-life story of suicide in the Bible. We can read of Judas Iscariot in Matthew 27:3-5 who betrayed Jesus Christ for thirty pieces of silver but later hung himself, plagued with the guilt of betraying the Son of God.

“Judas had betrayed Jesus, but when he learned that Jesus had been sentenced to death, he was sorry for what he had done. He returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and leaders and said, “I have sinned by betraying a man who has never done anything wrong.” “So what? That’s your problem,” they replied. Judas threw the money into the temple and then went out and hanged himself.” (Matthew 27:3-5)

Do Yourself No Harm!
These are two examples of suicide in the Bible. Judas carried out his suicide but the Prison Officer had a different outcome. The Apostle Paul shouted to the suicidal Prison Officer and said:

“Do yourself no harm! For we are all here.” (Acts 16:28)

A reassuring, comforting and warning cry came from the Lord Jesus Christ through Paul and told him ‘stop, wait, you don’t have to commit suicide.’ There is hope, it’s not all over, your life still has meaning, your life has much worth and God loves you. We the prisoners are still here and you are not at fault or to be blamed. Your life will be restored. He shall make a way out for you and save you. If you’re reading this today and like the Prison Officer have put the sword to yourself and have had suicidal thoughts, then stop; do yourself no harm, for Christ is here. He is not far and comes to the humble and broken-hearted, always providing a way out.

When Paul told the Prison Officer that ‘we are all here’, he was physically showing himself to the Prison Officer to reassure him. This was also God’s way of reassuring the suicidal Jailer that someone was there to hear his pain, his hurt, his guilt, his hopelessness. The same hope is offered today by God for you. Gods offers His people and His Church for anyone contemplating suicide as a physical support. We are all here. Do yourself no harm for you are precious in God’s eyes and your life has too great a value. We will come back later to the conclusion of the Prison Officer’s story.

Common Reasons behind Suicide
Many suicides have a reason behind them. Most often these reasons are; a sense of loneliness, stress, confusion, hopelessness, depression, sheer desperation, frustration, emptiness, grief, low-self esteem, rejection, shame and guilt for something. These are perhaps some of the feelings the Prison Officer and Judas Iscariot had. Their world had suddenly become dark, gloomy, filled with no hope and a sense of guilt and shame loomed over them. Sometimes many people commit suicide for no apparent reason. No one can rationalise or put a finger on why they did it. They live happy lives with so much going for them until all of a sudden; they take their lives leaving a huge big vacuum of questions. Many teenagers and young people commit suicide because of stress, peer pressure, parental pressure and the pressure to perform well in studies and jobs. The pressure to fit into society and be something they are not.

Many youngsters commit suicide because they feel they are the reason behind their parents divorce and home problems. The feel if they had not been born, everything would be okay. You are not to blame if you feel like that.

You have a spiritual need
Psychologists, psychiatrists and experts of today will probably diagnose suicidal thoughts as medical disturbances and chemical imbalances. Perhaps some rest, medication and counselling sessions would be prescribed. But is that really enough? Can modern science, psychological treatment and counselling really cure suicidal thoughts? This is precisely where Britain has gone wrong. We have forsaken God and continue to shake our fist at Him, thinking we can do it alone. We have been taught that we don’t need God. As a result we have become a spiritually impoverished nation with a morality crisis. This is not me undermining the work of the medical profession, for God uses these tools in marvellous ways, but can they probe into the areas of your heart which only God can touch? When you have a war waging in your mind, your soul seems heavy and your heart feels weighed down with darkness and gloom, is medicine and rest the cure; probably not.

I’m telling you it’s not enough. There are underlying issues of spiritual warfare which are perhaps ridiculed by the sceptic as sheer fantasy. But the fact remains; suicide is a battle for your soul and a cry from your heart. It is your spirit ringing the alarm bell telling you something is drastically wrong. Your spirit is crying out for God. Many who have attempted unsuccessfully at committing suicide talk about hearing voices in their head. The voices tell them how to commit suicide and why they should do it. The voice usually tells the individual that everyone is their enemy and that everyone hates them. The voice tells them they are to blame for their parents divorce, or that they if they weren’t born there would be no problems. The voice says that there is no way out of the situation and that all have abandoned them. Mass murderers have also testified of hearing voices in their head telling them to kill people.

The Bible tells us that satan the thief comes to steal and to kill and to destroy (John 10:10). He goes about like a roaring lion seeking someone he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). His sole purpose is to make you feel like your life is worthless and that everything is your fault. He is cunning and deceitful, manipulating emotions and making you feel like hell has surrounded you. He comes in the time when people are feeling their most vulnerable and weakest and convinces them that the only way out is suicide. He is a liar and there is no truth in him. His plans have been overthrown and Jesus has overcome all the powers of hell and darkness.

Jesus Christ already died in your place
You don’t have to commit suicide because Jesus Christ has already died on the cross for you. Whilst you broke the Law of God, Jesus stepped in and paid your fine, redeeming you from the curse of the Law. He too was surrounded by darkness, despair, hatred, hurt, pain, grief and rejection. He too felt lonely as all those around Him abandoned Him. He died on the cross so that we should no longer have to die, but by believing in Him and trusting in Him we could have eternal life and be saved. He did this for you.

“But God commends His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

He has paid the price for your guilt, your sin, your shame, your misery, your hopelessness, your trauma and your emptiness. He took it all upon Himself as He was crucified on the cross and bore the sins of the world, so that you don’t have to commit suicide and die. One person died so that no other person should ever have to die. This is the abundant, overflowing love, mercy and grace of God which is a free gift for you.

Jesus said “I have come so that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10).

Through Jesus Christ you are given hope and a new meaning to life. He can take your heart of stone and regenerate it by His miraculous power into a heart of flesh. He can make you into a new creation and give you purpose for your life. Jesus Christ is the light of the world and He alone stands in opposition to satan and tells you that you have significance. He alone can fill you with joy even in the midst of a crazy world. When the world closes in and the darkness sets in, the voice of Jesus whispers this:

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5).

Here is the hope, on the third day Jesus Christ rose from the dead, triumphing over death and the grave. He had conquered death so that we could have life.

Jesus said “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17)

Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace
Ask the mother who has lost her son to suicide. Ask the brother who has lost his best friend to suicide or ask a father who has lost his daughter to suicide and they will all tell you there are no words which can fill the hurt and deep scars. Thank God for family and friends when they comfort the mourning and bring a sense of family, hope and comfort. Thank God for organisations such as the Samaritans who help in the grieving process and offer a shoulder to lean on or someone to talk to. But there is another comfort and peace which comes from above. This comfort and peace is perfect and never fails. Jesus said:

Jesus said “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4)

Man can reassure and counsel so much, but only God can comfort and bring peace. Where family and friends can only spend so much time in helping, your Heavenly Father brings eternal comfort and peace which never fades or diminishes. The Bible says

“…He will cover you under His feathers and under His wings you will find refuge…” (Psalm 91:4).

Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit as the Comforter who brings true comfort and true peace in John 15:16. Isaiah spoke of Jesus as the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

The Suicidal Prison Officer’s Story Continued
To conclude the story of the Prison Officer we must continue our reading in Acts 16:28-34:

“But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying, Do yourself no harm, for we are all here. Then asking for a light he rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. And leading them outside, he said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved, and your household. And they spoke the Word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his household. And taking them in that hour of the night, he washed from their stripes. And he was baptized, he and all his, immediately. And bringing them up to the house, he set a table before them and rejoiced, believing in God with his entire household.” (Acts 16:28-34).

In the end the Prison Officer did not commit suicide because God stepped in and saved him. God had spoken through Paul and told him not to commit suicide. The Prison Officer then asked what he must do to be saved and become a believer and follower of Jesus Christ. Paul instantly replied,

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:31).

“…if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

Jesus said “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15)

Is there help for me?
Yes there is. This hope is for you today if you have been having suicidal thoughts. You don’t’ have to commit suicide. God loves you passionately and knows you are suffering. He knows your deep hurt but He is the only one who can heal your wounds. He is the One who will rescue you from your situation and make all things better. Will you reach out to Jesus today and call upon His name? He won’t let you down. He welcomes the broken hearted and is a refuge and a safe place. He won’t betray your trust like humans can. He won’t fail you or even turn you down. He can save you.

There is hope for you. There has always been hope for you. His name is Jesus. You are only complete as a person when you come to Christ. Your whole being craves for God; emotionally, intellectually and spiritually. Don’t delay; throw yourself upon Christ Jesus today. He offers forgiveness of every sin, free salvation and the assurance of His presence and eternal life.

“…and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.” (Colossians 2:10).

Where can I get further help from?
Samaritans provides confidential non-judgmental, emotional support, 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which could lead to suicide.

http://www.samaritans.org/

If you live outside of the UK and ROI, visit www.befrienders.org to find your nearest helpline.

Across the UK you can call Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 for the price of a local call. In the Republic of Ireland call 1850 60 90 90.

You can also email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org, write to Chris, PO Box 9090, Stirling, FK8 2SA or if you are deaf or hard of hearing use the single national minicom number 08457 90 91 92.

Tags: Assisted Suicide, Commit Suicide, Debbie Purdy, Hope, Jesus Christ, Kazumi Puttick, Neil Puttick, Samaritans, Seven Pounds, Suicidal, Suicide, Voluntary Suicide, Will Smith

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