Suicide and Eternal Life

“Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith so ever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.” Mark 3:28-30

Posted on a recent online discussion forum was this question, “Does suicide keep someone from going to heaven?” Over the years, I have heard this same question asked from time to time. Sadly, teachers of God’s word often concentrate of the act of suicide instead of the final disposition of that poor soul in relationship to God their creator.

The act of suicide, no matter the motive or method, only terminates the poor soul’s life here. What suicide cannot accomplish is the eternal termination of that same soul and his or her accountability before the God who created him! This may bring great comfort to for those who are suffering in the loss or cause the one who is considering ending their life – to rethink the consequences. There is always hope, no matter how deep the anguish!

A number of years ago, a dear shepherd of a small north Georgia fellowship discovered his own beloved son had terminated his life by a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Though the son was gone – the family was left to pick up the pieces of a life shattered by that young man’s final act of desperation.

Was there hope beyond the grave for that young man, though he was gone? Was there hope for the father, mother, wife and children who were left behind In his case the answer is an emphatic, “Yes!”

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Colossians 1:2-4

A person may terminate his life by suicide for a number of reasons – and the motive for their following through may be flawed too. The more important question should always concern their last state before dying – were they “born again” by the Spirit or not? If so, they become “hid” with Christ in God by that same Holy Spirit!

“In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:11-14

I observed in utter amazement as that frail and hurting shepherd preached a final sermon over the lifeless body of his own dear son – with courage and hope, even in the face of seemingly indescribable pain.

“For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.” II Corinthians 5:4-9

Sadly, there is another truth about the consequences of suicide. It is, often times, the very last act of foolishness for the wretched soul who erroneously thought all things ended with their last heartbeat. God’s word describes this person as practicing unbelief:

“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.” Hebrews 3:12

“So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.” Hebrews 3:19

What is the “unbelief” that God speaks of? What Jesus Christ declares of Himself:

“Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:5-6

Whether one dies by suicide or any other means – it becomes too late for their being saved from eternal damnation if they have died in unbelief of Jesus Christ and His gospel:

“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:12

A last comfort to all who have lost a loved one that was a follower of Jesus Christ:

“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” I Thessalonians 4:13-18

Personal Note: In my darkest hour, God gave me this beautiful set of scriptures. Even today, they bring great comfort to me personally. God knows. He loves you.

Please read Ezra 9:8-9 in God’s Word. He will comfort you…

In Love and Praying,

William Cody Bateman

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