Suicide Is Never the Answer

I was just reading the story of Judas' death. He felt such remorse for his part in Jesus' condemnation that he couldn't live with himself. Giving the money back to those who paid him for his betrayal wasn't enough. He could just couldn't see beyond what he had done.

Just think what waiting four days would have done for Judas. In four days Jesus would be resurrected. He could seek forgiveness and know that, while what he had done was certainly evil, it was also necessary in the fulfillment of salvation for mankind. He could have had the greatest comeback of all time if he had merely waited four days.

Each person I know who has been successful in their suicide attempt applied the problems they were feeling today to forever. They could not see beyond the problems of today. They, therefore, had a permanent solution for a temporary problem.

Isn't it amazing that nearly all problems appear permanent when we know that they will be temporary. We see the failure of a class as a inescapable condemnation which will last forever. We think we will never escape it. The truth is that it is temporary and need not haunt us all of our lives.

A girlfriend or boyfriend breaks up with you and it seems like the end of the world. A couple of years later we can hardly remember that we ever had feelings for that person. Bankruptcies can destroy a credit rating but that credit rating can be rebuilt. Even prison can be put into your past if you endeavor to live differently.

Let's face it. Our problems are temporary. The only real problems we have are living like our problems are permanent.

I don't think Judas would have committed suicide if he had waited four days. If you feel real despair just wait and see if things don't all turn around. Suicide is never the answer.

Matthew 27:3-5 (ESV)
3 Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” 5 And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself.