Sunday was Easter, a day where we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. He died Friday at the hands of hate but he rose Sunday by the power of love. It was Love’s Victory! On Sunday, I opened with an illustration of “Would you rather?”
Would you rather have a victory or go down in defeat?
Would you rather win or lose?
Would you rather live or die?
Live or die? That question falls heavy on a person who is hopeless, or who struggles with suicidal ideation. It also falls heavy on those who have had a friend or loved one who left this world far too soon, choosing death over life. I had some gracious friends who reminded me that my illustration of “would you rather” could have made some feel uncomfortable, unsafe, or even triggered haunting thoughts long put away. In 2020, over 45,000 people lost their lives to suicide in the United States. The last thing we would ever want to do is to contribute to create an unsafe place where those who are wrestling with depression, hopelessness or even suicidal thoughts would not feel the presence or love of a God who gave His life for them.
Hopelessness is a terrible place to be. Not be trite … but in Christ, there is hope. That being said … there are many who have hope in Christ, but who lose hope in this world and in what this world has to offer. When that happens, there are shattered families and broken lives. I have friends and family who have lost someone to suicide, and it is beyond painful. May we always be a safe place for those who are struggling and even suffering with suicidal thoughts due to hopelessness, depression, loneliness and more. If you are at that place and what you heard impacted you, I am so very sorry and want you to know that we care about you and what you are going through. I would also say, don’t go through this alone. Please let us know if you need help, counseling, someone to talk to, but if you cannot get ahold of us, do not be alone; call the Suicide Hotline at 800-273-8255 for help.
In Christ, there is hope ... both in this world and in the life to come. Here are five verses to remind you and me that in Christ we have hope!
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 1 John 5:13–14
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:3–7
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8–10
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16–18
Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:13–14
-Pastor Jerry