I remember that, almost 10 years ago, a young couple were found dead at the foot of a block of HDB flats in Bukit Batok. They had jumped to their death after sniffing glue. The girl was only 15 years old, a Secondary 3 student from Fairfield Methodist Secondary School. She committed suicide because she feared ending up in a girls’ home as she had been summoned to court for some mischief. She was stressed and depressed. As for the 22-year-old man, the reason for his suicide is unknown. What problem is so severe that it cannot be solved? Are you feeling that life is not worth living anymore? Do you feel there is no way out? Does it seem that no one cares? It may be true that feelings of despair or hopelessness can lead some people to contemplate suicide.

But, can a true Christian commit suicide? God’s Word records the cases of at least 5 men who committed suicide: Saul (1 Sam 31:4), Saul’s armourbearer (1 Sam 31:5), Ahithophel (2 Sam 17:23), Zimri (1 Kings 16:15-20), and Judas Iscariot (Matt 27:3-5). All were unbelievers who were rejected by God for the wickedness they had done. There was no help for them when they came to the tragic end of their life. But it is not so for true believers. The Holy Spirit who indwells every born again believer will enable him to turn to Christ and to His reassuring Word for help and comfort. Jesus says, “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28). I believe true Christians who are of normal health and mental condition will never commit suicide. And Apostle Paul’s words stand true: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Cor 10:13).

A believer’s hope is in God through Jesus Christ, no matter how tough and difficult life may be. God will give him the power and strength to overcome. God says that He will never leave us nor forsake us. Let us be comforted that our God truly means what He says and says what He means. No matter what happens, He will be with us all the way from beginning to end. We will never be alone. Be thankful to God and look to God for help to overcome whatever difficulty you may face in life. What can be worse than God’s judgment against our unbelief and sin? If Christ can take care of that for us when we turn to Him by faith and repentance, there is really nothing in this world that can cause us to fear. Jesus also says,

(Matt 10:28). When we are in Christ, there is really no problem in our life that is so great that cannot be solved. We just need to learn to walk by faith and trust in Him. May God help us. Amen.