I wish I had a well-researched, Biblically accurate answer for you, but I don't. This is a question which I have pondered for a very long time and the best I can do is guess based on what I know about God from what He has revealed to us. I know that when we accept Christ, all our sins are forgiven - past, present and future. I have to assume that the blood of Christ covers even the sin of suicide for one who has truly given his or her life to Jesus. I presume that God would be very disappointed, as He always is when we fall, but that He would forgive us through the sacrifice of His Son's shed blood. I don't find this answer very satisfying, because I want to believe that God never gives one of his adopted sons or daughters more than they can handle. I want to believe that whenever someone is close to death and can't take it anymore, God rescues them and saves them...but it doesn't seem that God has chosen to work in this way. God has the power to take lives when it is their appointed time, and He does so every day, so clearly, it must not be in His will for us to die by our own hand, otherwise He would take us Himself. For us to violate His will in this regard is very selfish - it is to say to God, "I don't care what work you have for me on this earth, I'm doing what's best for me." Yet at the same time, I have an enormous amount of sympathy for people in mental anguish, as one who suffered greatly with depression in my younger years. Whenever I wanted to take my life, it was the fear of letting God down that kept me here. Truthfully, there were times that it was tough and I came close, so I could never bring myself to judge a brother or sister in Christ who succumbed to the pain. It can be devastating. I guess for me, the bottom line is that I trust in the grace and mercy of the Lord that when someone does give in to the pain, God forgives them and welcomes them home. I believe this, I just wish I could prove it Biblically....I invite other members of this site to let me know if they feel they have an applicable Bible verse. Thanks again for your question. God bless.

5/9/2008 5:55:01 PM - Michael Lane, Executive Director, Delve Christian Ministries

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