Suicide, or Salvation Through Jesus Christ

What is the purpose and meaning of life? What is the point of it? These are questions that millions of people are asking all over the world. They are living lives of hopelessness and despair. The latest statistics show that even in affluent America 9.3 million people have had suicidal thoughts and 2.7 million have made plans to end their life. According to the World Health Organization, by the year 2020 there will be, somewhere in the world, a suicide every 20 seconds!

Suicide is happening with every age, from pre-teens to senior citizens. There have been stories of teens taking their life due to bullying, among other reasons. Senior adults approaching retirement age are “giving in to depression and despair,” in the words of one writer, due to excessive debt, medical bills, little savings, or physical pain. Overall, suicide has become the third highest cause of death worldwide, even above auto accidents.

Writer, Michael Snyder, asks the question, “Why does the number of people killing themselves just keep going up?”
One would think that with all of the anti-depressant medication being prescribed, and all of the counseling and intervention going on that this trend would be decreasing. This same writer puts forth an answer: “People have pushed God to the outer fringe of society, and we have decided that we can set up our own version of utopia without him.”

Truly, individuals have been created by a God who loves them, and for a purpose. But when God is rejected, his purpose for their life remains unidentified and unrealized. Hence, people ask the question, “Why am I here?” Without knowing why you are here, life can become nothing more than a quest for money and materialism, accompanied by entertainment, amusement, and partying. Some turn to drugs, alcohol, or illicit sexual behavior. None of this brings true happiness or meaning to life.

Individuals were created to have a relationship with their creator. Jesus came to offer an abundant life of peace, hope, forgiveness, and eternal life in a utopian environment called heaven. God loves each and every person and wants them to experience his grace and power in their lives. He can help them put their past behind them. The only real solution to the rising suicide rate is a spiritual rebirth of the heart made possible through Jesus Christ. In the words of one writer, “If I had not given my life to the Lord Jesus Christ, I would probably be dead today. He has taken the broken pieces of my life and has made them into a beautiful thing, and he can do the same for you.”

Again, quoting Michael Snyder, people “could have futures beyond what they could possibly imagine, but they are focusing on all the wrong things.” The Bible says in Ephesians 3:20 that God “…is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.” Psalm 27:13 says “I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” By God’s grace, you don’t have to allow your past to determine your future. God offers forgiveness for everything that you have done, and loves you with an everlasting and unconditional love. He desires for you to experience new hope, peace, and purpose. He can pick up the brokenness in your life and put your feet on a sure foundation.

Are you going to allow God to work in your life today? Take a moment to consider where your life could be in 5 or 10 years by giving God the rightful place. He created you and wants you to live with the purpose he has for you. How about it? Take that first step. Be a member of “the land of the living.”