Text: 2 Samuel 1:26; Romans 8:3539

Topic: Following a suicide, faith must be adjusted one minute at a time.

Introduction

• The death of a friend to suicide is, frankly, the most difficult death to face.

Illustration: Truman Dollar, one of Dobson's parishioners and a best friend, had been dealing with depression for months when he committed suicide earlier in the week.

Only the truth of Scripture can set us free.

• David's lament of Jonathan's death (2 Sam. 1:26) expresses the deep grief when you lose a close friend.
• Truman often told Dobson there were three things in ministry to know: (1) It's never as good as it seems; (2) It's never as bad as it seems; (3) The greatest myth of all is that you can fix it. It never gets fixed.
• Dobson: "I'm pretty mad at him because he didn't practice what he preached."

Why would a person commit suicide?

• Dobson says he can think of only two answers:

None of us will ever really know why

It wasn't the Truman we all knew.

• We can only do what is right; we cannot change or control the choices of another person.
• We must not, cannot, accept the guilt and responsibility of another's choices.
• "I hope this doesn't sound uncaring: He failed. He made the choice."

What happens to a suicide victim after he dies?

• Some theologians believe you forfeit heaven, but the Bible refutes that: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" (Romans 8:35). Nothing.
• Truman is in heaven not because of what he did, but because of his faith in Christ.
• Truman is in God's presence, but God was not pleased with what he did.

What now?

• Trust God one second at a time, not a day at a time. A day is too long in a crisis.
• Forgive the person who committed suicide for what he/she did.
• Make four resolutions:

Do not judge or condemn the person; that's God's responsibility.

Do not speculate or gossip; Christians are some of the worst gossipers.

Do not judge the person's life by his/her last hour; that's only a tiny percentage of the entire life.

Keep on loving and caring for people, even if they rip out part of your heart.

Conclusion

• If you're depressed, seek professional, Christian help right away.