A Little Q & A For Your Day From The Enon Church of Christ

The Question:

 Dear Sir:  I am a Christian, and in prison for a forty-year sentence.  I am thinking of committing suicide, for I see no hope of ever getting out.  My mother is too old to visit me, and I don't want to live like this any longer. Will God send me to hell for committing suicide?  I don't want to be lost.

 The Answer:

 The last statement in your question is most significant.  There is certainly "doubt" about your committing suicide being approved by God; and, as the apostle wrote about eating meat: "He who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin" (Rom. 14:23).  Actually, the Scriptures show clearly that God is the giver of life, and it is wrong to take a life - even your own.  To take your own life, deliberately, is clearly sin.  And it is difficult to see how you could repent of such an act in order to be forgiven.  I am sure it is difficult for you now, but there are some principles and examples from Scripture that should help you.

 First of all, God cares for you. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).  Some suppose that God only loves "the good people."  But look at what Paul wrote, "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8).  In spite of the fact that God hates sin, He loves the sinner.  You don't say what crime caused your imprisonment, but I am sure that God hates that act.  But He loves you, in spite of what you have done.

 Second, God's care and concern can help you through the difficult times you face.  Joseph was sold by his own brothers into slavery in Egypt (Gen. 37).  As a slave, he was thrown into prison, and (seemingly) he was in a hopeless situation.  But it wasn't hopeless, because God cared, and God was in control.  Jonah, in spite of his rebellion against God and being swallowed by the whale, was still heard when he prayed to God (Jonah 2:1), and God delivered him.  Elijah lost hope of life, because the king and others sought his life, and he thought no one else cared for the things of God.  But God was still in control, and delivered him while eliminating the wicked king (1 Kings 19).  Sure, these things took time for God to act.  But He did act.

 The Lord promises us: "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it ... Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (1 Cor. 10:13; Matt. 28:20).  I have no doubt that you will have many problems, temptations and difficulties.  Believe in God, and trust that He will see you through all of these.  Remember: "The testing of your faith produces patience ...  For you have need of patience, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise" (James 1:3; Heb. 10:36)

I hope this helps.