Allow me to direct your attention to these words from the lips of Jesus.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. - John 10:10

Recently, our community experienced a tragedy. Two young adults had their lives come to a premature end, in what the evidence points to as a murder/suicide. We were all terribly saddened. Suicide is a serious problem in our nation. Here are some of the sobering statistics...

• 31,484 people committed suicide in 2003 (the last year for which I could find complete statistics)
• At that rate, there are 86 suicides each day - one every 16 and a half minutes
• Suicide is the 11th ranking cause of death in the U.S. - 3rd among the young
• And contrary to popular belief, the statistics prove that suicide rates actually increase with age

Experts identify various factors that place an individual at risk for suicide. Among them - and I emphasize that this list is not complete - are the following risk factors.

• Previous suicide attempt(s)
• History of mental disorders, particularly depression
• History of alcohol and substance abuse
• Family history of suicide/local epidemics of suicide
• Impulsive or aggressive tendencies
• Loss (relational, social, work, or financial)
• Physical illness
• Unwillingness to seek help, possibly due to the stigma attached to mental health and substance abuse disorders or suicidal thoughts.
• Isolation, a feeling of being cut off from other people

There are some suicide warning signs that we would all do well to be tuned in to.

Warning signs requiring immediate action:

• Someone threatening to hurt or kill him/herself, or talking of wanting to hurt or kill him/herself.
• Someone looking for ways to kill him/herself by seeking access to firearms, available pills, or other means.
• Someone talking or writing about death, dying or suicide, especially when these actions are out of the ordinary for the person.

Other warning signs not to be ignored:

• Hopelessness
• Rage, uncontrolled anger, seeking revenge
• Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities, seemingly without thinking
• Feeling trapped - like there's no way out
• Increased alcohol or drug use
• Withdrawing from friends, family, and society
• Anxiety, agitation, unable to sleep, or sleeping all the time
• Dramatic mood changes
• No reason for living; no sense of purpose in life

Unless you have experienced the depths of depression and the hopelessness that it brings, it is difficult to understand why someone would want to end their life - especially a younger person with "their whole life before them."

The fact of the matter is that most young people are still developing an ability to see life's "big picture." In no way is that observation to be taken as a put down. This ability is refined with age and experience. It is simply easier for a younger person to be overwhelmed by circumstances and see no end in sight to their current pain. They can easily feel trapped and hopelessness then sets in. When this darkness comes crashing in, wave upon wave, suicide can take on the look of being the best way out.

However, this combination of factors certainly presents itself to older people, as well, in a kind of "perfect storm" of the soul and they don't always respond well either. The results can quite obviously be tragic - whether for the young or the older.

I want to clearly say that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Believe me, no matter how horrible your current circumstances may be, and I recognize that people - even devout believers - face situations that are extremely difficult - in Jesus Christ, the light of the world, there are better ways of dealing with life's harsh realities than choosing to end life. I am pleased to share with you that...

Jesus offers abundant life. - John 10:10

The Bible teaches us that man was created to enjoy fellowship with God. However, man chose to exercise the free will God granted him in a way that was contrary to the will of the Creator and with that choice, sin and the darkness it causes, entered the arena of human experience. Make no mistake about it, according to the scriptures every one of us has sinned and our sin separates us from God. Moreover, there is being waged around us a spiritual battle. It is a battle for our very souls.

I want to direct your attention back to today's scripture reading. Notice what the first part of the verse states, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy." Observe with me just who it is that is your enemy in this struggle. It is "the thief", and certainly, in the ultimate sense, it is Satan himself who is this thief. He is the prince of darkness, the agent of hopelessness, and his number one priority is to destroy you and I and he will use anything at his disposal - including the inevitable disappointments and heartbreaks of life - to bring us down.

However, I am glad to tell you that God is also involved in this fight - the Lord mighty in battle! He has made provision for you and me to live in victory over the attempts of the devil to destroy us and it all revolves around the cross of Jesus Christ.

God loved us so much that he sent Jesus into the world and when Jesus offered his life as a sacrifice for our sins, he made provision for the forgiveness of the sin that separates us from God. He also opened up to us the possibility of a relationship with our Heavenly Father, and it is out of this relationship that we find the resources needed to experience victory over the attacks of the wicked one.

Now, rather than merely existing, we can experience what John described as "life to the full," or as it's translated in other versions of the Bible, "life filled with purpose and meaning".

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. - John 8:12

Moving about in darkness is confusing, difficult, and can be very dangerous. Have you ever been awakened from a deep sleep only to find yourself needing a moment to remember just where you were? Who hasn't fumbled around in a dark room trying not to trip? No doubt numbers of us have found ourselves trying to drive through a dark fog while worrying about running off the road or into another vehicle.

Because of sin's pervasive influence in our culture, there is great spiritual darkness abroad in our world. For those who have not yet found the light there is in Jesus, navigating life can be confusing, difficult and even dangerous.

I have a dear friend who fought a pitched battle with depression. It started in his early teen years. He felt tossed about by the anxiety and darkness that filled his mind. Yet, out of his relationship with God through Christ, he found answers. Listen to his testimony...

Jesus was not just a Savior that released me from the darkness of my sins, He was the Light that led me out of the darkness of my mind.

Our minds are the battlefield upon which the war for our souls is waged. God has given us a resource to help us have a mind that is sound and fixed upon what is true, right, and lovely. This resource is the Bible - the word of God.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. - Psalm 119:105

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will. - Romans 12:1-2

Thank God that his word renews our mind and influences our thinking in a positive fashion. And listen to these words...

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. - II Timothy 1:7 (King James Version)

In our relationship with God through Christ we find deliverance from darkness. Jesus offers the following reason for living in Mark 1:17.

Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Every believer has the high privilege of being a part of what God is doing in the world. What is it exactly that he is doing? He is up to reaching out to every man, woman, boy, and girl with his wonderful offer of salvation and you and I can be a part of this endeavor. We participate in this great effort by demonstrating the love of God to others around us, praying earnestly that others would come to know Jesus, and by sharing the good news of what God has done for us through Jesus.

Jesus also offers the following reason for living and hope for all eternity.

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. - John 14:1-3

Jesus offers hope for all eternity. According to Hebrews 6:19, hope serves as an anchor for the soul. That is, it is that which that holds us steady in the storms of life.

Jesus has the future covered for those who follow him. There is always hope ahead. In fact, Christ followers have hope throughout all of eternity, and we ought to leave to God what Paul referred to as "the time of my departure." Our lives are in the hands of God. He gave life to us and he's the one who ought to make the determination when that life comes to an end. He'll take us home when it's our time. The timing of our death ought to be left in the hands of our wise and loving God.

Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. There's no need to exercise that option. Jesus offers...

• Abundant life
• Deliverance from darkness
• A reason for living
• Hope for all eternity

Life apart from Christ is described in the Bible as "darkness." There is so much of it in our world. The good news of the gospel is that you can move from the darkness to the light by receiving Jesus Christ as your Savior.

It may be that you are beset by problems so great that you are considering ending your life. If that is the case, please talk with someone instead of exercising the suicide option. Please hear me, if you find yourself in the darkness today, the first step in the direction of life is to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior. He offers to each one of us what we so desperately need.

Mark is the Pastor of the Evangel Assembly of God located at 1633 Portage Road, Wooster, Ohio, and he would like to extend a cordial invitation for you to join them in worship. If you do not live locally but will be visiting some of the popular attractions in nearby Holmes County, please consider making Evangel one of your stops.

"Reflections" is updated each week with sermons and discourses that reflect the spiritual life of the local community and encourage us to dedicate time and effort to renewing our faith. As we endeavor to represent all faiths, we heartily encourage religious leaders of every denomination and creed to submit copy to be considered for this column.

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