Hard Hearts and the Broken Ones They Leave Behind - Suicide
My friend committed suicide on Friday. I fear she died without Christ.
The last time I saw her, she had left her husband, and broken up with her rebound boyfriend; she was aimless and sad. She needed Jesus and I witnessed to her, she was not receptive, her heart was hard and the visit was cut short. When she left I did not realize I would never see her again.
Several years later, we received the news that her ex-husband had died from complications of the alcoholism that had destroyed their marriage. She was devastated. She had never remarried and for about a week, we chatted on the phone. Finally, I gently broached the subject again - her husband, for all his failings, had loved Jesus. He was in Heaven, he was not dead. Again, she was not open, the call ended and we never spoke again. Several weeks later, I wrote a pleading email to her. I was kind, I was gentle, but again I told her about Christ. That was the last communication we ever had.
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| Rejecting the Gospel |
Deeply troubled by the death of my friend, I sought the Lord in prayer. He settled my spirit with these words, "Why do you think I prompted you to witness to her so often and so directly? I knew the end from the beginning. I wanted you to know on this day, that you did everything that you could."
In the end, that is all a believer in Christ can ask of themselves. "Did you tell them? Did you try? Did you do your best?" As the hour grows late and the end of this age draws near, every believer needs to become an evangelist because millions of our friends are out there on the precipice. I urge you today if you have an unsaved friend or loved one - don't let another minute go by, tell them about Jesus.
I'm so sorry for your pain, grieved for the deep pain of your friend and blessed by the penetrating and timely reminder.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for your loss, Dolley, but am grateful for the courage you have to now share this important truth with many.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing, Dolley. Every believer an evangelist—I like it. The time is now.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this. My family and I learned that an old family friend commited suicide in the parking lot of his work a couple days ago, leaving behind a wife and two kids. He and his wife had a turbulent relationship to say the least and it was evident that he wasn't happy. It's comforting to know he loved and followed Jesus but it doesn't take away from the fact that it has left so many questions and hurt.
ReplyDeleteDear friend, if your friend would have loved and followed Jesus he wouldn't have committed suicide nor God wouldn't have allowed it to succeed. FYI: http://illbehonest.com/can-a-christian-commit-suicide-tim-conway Blessings!
DeleteDolley, never give up hope. Even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death he is with us. He is our blessed hope!
ReplyDeletePsalm 139:7-10 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
As an update - I felt responsible to inform my friend's ex mother-in-law of her passing. Imagine my relief and praise when she informed me that several years ago my friend had found Christ.
ReplyDeleteDear friend, I am sorry to tell you that a Christian does not commit suicide as God will keep us from death. Successful suicide means the person does not belong to Jesus. 1 John 2,19 // 1 Corinthians 10,13 // John 10,28-29 and Romans 8,38-39. I am sorry but that is the truth.
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