I saw this post by several Christian friends on FB and gotta admit Im a bit appalled by this. The authors intent is sincere, but where is the faith, hope, and trust in God? The issue here isnt suicide or homicide - Im not condemning nor condoning. I have lost many people I know to suicide. The issue here though is sin-related. Any time we act in disobedience to God and His Word, we sin. And we all struggle with a sin nature. We all make mistakes. My heart bled for Brittany not because it was suicide or an act of homicide, but because it was a lack of hope and faith. And Im not preaching a prosperity gospel or claim-it faith healing gospel. I believe Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. It says so in the Bible, and I believe the Bible is what it is - the inspired Word of God. The same Jesus who raised Lazarus from four days in the grave, is the same Jesus today. If He did it then, He can still do it today. And He does. True, He didnt heal everyone who came to Him in the Gospels (most healings were in furthering His Kingdom), and He doesnt heal everyone today - true healing is when we are taken from this world and are home with Jesus. But when we choose to act apart from God (on our own) especially against His teachings, then we sin - plain and simple. But sadly, much of the Church today tries to justify sin - it doesnt believe God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. I love King Asas story in the chaotic Kingdom period. He was the first righteous king of Judah (we find his story in 1 Kings chapter 15 and 2 Chronicles chapters 14 through 16). God, through a series of trials, tested Asas faith. He put his faith & hope in God, and he was delivered on several occasions. And it said he had peace. When we look at 2 Chronicles 15, we find Asa stopped putting his trust in God: In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah. Asa then took the silver and gold out of the treasuries of the LORD’s temple and of his own palace and sent it to Ben-Hadad king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus. “Let there be a treaty between me and you,” he said, “as there was between my father and your father. See, I am sending you silver and gold. Now break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so he will withdraw from me.” Ben-Hadad agreed with King Asa and sent the commanders of his forces against the towns of Israel. They conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim[d] and all the store cities of Naphtali. When Baasha heard this, he stopped building Ramah and abandoned his work. Then King Asa brought all the men of Judah, and they carried away from Ramah the stones and timber Baasha had been using. With them he built up Geba and Mizpah. At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him: “Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. Were not the Cushites[e] and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen[f]? Yet when you relied on the LORD, he delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.” Asa was angry with the seer because of this; he was so enraged that he put him in prison. At the same time Asa brutally oppressed some of the people. The events of Asa’s reign, from beginning to end, are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the LORD, but only from the physicians. Then in the forty-first year of his reign Asa died and rested with his ancestors. They buried him in the tomb that he had cut out for himself in the City of David. They laid him on a bier covered with spices and various blended perfumes, and they made a huge fire in his honor. And now we see the chaos – the result of unfaithfulness to God. Asa, who once depended wholeheartedly on the Lord - even when the odds were completely against him – now rejects the help of God and turns to others. He became self-centered. He had lived in peace and comfort for so long that he forgot about the One who brought him to this place of rest. He forgot! He got caught up in his life of comfort – his comfort zone – that he forgot about his loyalty. So, the Lord sent trouble his way. Instead of turning to God, Israel’s true King, he sought the help of a foreign king. Then, God sent sickness to him, but even in his sickness he did not ask the Lord for help. But instead he turned to doctors. And these weren’t ordinary doctors but rather magical and idol-worshipping doctors. And he died! Ill close with one last thing. Even if a doctor should tell you there is no hope, you can rest knowing that there is if you put your hope in God. Heather did. She knew God had a plan for her and didnt give up abcnews.go/Health/mom-stuns-doctors-beating-deadliest-brain-cancer/story?id=18135106
Posted on: Wed, 05 Nov 2014 13:33:52 +0000
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