I can't believe it. I am shocked. How could someone with so much in life just end it? How could someone with so many people who loved them end it? How could he? How could she? Why did they take their life and end it? 

Suicide is a dark reality in this world. We successful people like Robin Williams, Marilyn Monroe, Kurt Coban, and Ernest Hemingway take their lives. We see these people and believe that they have alot for which to live. How could anyone ever take their own life? How could anyone go through with the pills, the gun, the drugs, the rope, or the jump? 

Many in the Church believe that someone who kills themselves is outside of forgiveness because they never had the chance to repent. They believe that those who commit suicide are damned because they did not repent of their sin of breaking the 5th Commandment and killing themselves. I am sure that you have heard either a pastor in the past, an elder, a parent, or a fellow brother or sister believe this lie. Yes, it is a lie to say that someone who does not have the chance to repent is damned to hell. Yes, it is a lie of the devil to believe that only those who repent of every single sin they ever think, say, or do will gain entrance into the eternal dwellings. 

May the devil be silenced, that the voice of the Holy Spirit may be heard from the hand of St. Paul who says, " Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” ³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:34-39).  Yes, my brothers and sisters, it is Jesus who is to condemn. Jesus is the one with all authority in heaven and on earth. 

Yes, Jesus is the One with all authority in heaven and on earth. Why? Because, on the cross, Jesus assumed all the sins of every sinner on earth who deserves condemnation because of their sin. What does it mean that Jesus assumed every sin of every sinner? It means that Jesus knew everything He was claiming as His own sin and putting to death on the cross. Jesus knew every sin. He knew every dark moment. Think of it this way. Every person who dwells in the pit of despair and takes their own life, Jesus knew it. He knew that person was going to take their life, and Jesus laid down His life on the cross that the suicide may not be condemned. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 

There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Some will then say that the suicide is not in Christ because they take their own life and reject the gifts of Jesus. Do we not all do this every day? Do we not all reject the forgiveness of Jesus, His mercy, and all His gifts habitually?  Do we who believe not reject on a daily basis the things of God? How is this any different for the person who kills themselves? They have faith, but have been overcome by despair. Despair is a sin like any other sin. Is there a sin that Jesus didn't die for on the cross? No, Jesus died for every sin, which includes suicide. Yes, on the cross, the Law did not find the sinless Son of God, but found Robin, Marilyn, Kurt, Ernest, and every brother and sister you know who has been in that dark despair and taken their own life. One who kills himself is not prideful, but rather dwells in such a dark despair that he can't see any light. Yes, one who contemplates suicide is not thinking straight, but is being overcome by the despair of the devil.

Who is the only one that can overcome the devil? Can we do this? No, for we will fail. Only Jesus overcomes the devil. He overcomes the devil by showering fallen man in His mercy and forgiveness. Is the suicide under the mercy of Jesus? Yes, Jesus is merciful, and died on the cross as the Suicide, so that He could forgive them their sin of doubt ridden despair. Suicide does not condemn. NO! Being outside of Christ does. Christ died for weak sinners who can't make it. Jesus died for those who take their own life because they are overcome with grief and despair. Jesus died so that they may live, even when they think death is the only option. 

Those who commit suicide are overcome by the devil. Jesus does not sit by and watch this happen. No. On the cross, Jesus became the suicide despair in order that the suicide may receive His joy of everlasting life. The darkness of the devil is overcome in the mercy of Jesus. No, the suicide is not condemned because they didn't have a chance to repent, but rather they are claimed by Jesus and kept secure in His arms, no matter how dark their pilgrimage here was. 

On the cross, Jesus became the man and woman who take their own life, so that they may have His life and have it in abundance. Jesus died that they may live with Him. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ, and this includes the suicide. Why? Because He paid the debt of their suicide in His blood on the cross. Yes, He paid the debt that they owe so that the Father now welcomes them into heaven as His beloved children. The darkness of suicide is only overcome in the mercy of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. The darkness cannot comprehend Jesus or overcome Him. In Christ, all those who commit suicide are forgiven and claimed forever. May the devil's lies end, that the Gospel of Jesus may be proclaimed and all be saved. 

Peace be with you this day. May the devil be silenced, the world be hushed, and the Old Adam be drowned anew so that you hear only the peaceful voice of your Savior Jesus who says, "I love you. I forgive you. I claim you as My own forever," Amen. 

Jesus' Sheepdog