Jump Start # 3934
John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
Throwback Thursday: an article written from days gone by
A Little Piece of Heaven
He sat alone in the darkened room, staring aimlessly into the stillness of the night. His thoughts raced wildly over the past few weeks. His mother and father not only did not understand, they were overly critical and even condemning. His father shouted, lectured and threatened. His mother just cried. Friends didn’t seem to care for they had their own problems to figure out. He was scared, ashamed, fearful and confused. There just appeared to be no correcting what has already happened. His life was a mess.
Tears trickling steadily down his cheeks, eyes reddened with sorrow, hands trembling beyond control, the young man bent over and picked up a gun. He point the gun at his head, swallowed deeply, closed his eyes tightly, and mumbled a soft “good-bye”…and gently squeezed the trigger…within seconds his body lay limp and still as all life swiftly left him.
Over 500,000 teenagers will attempt to kill themselves this year. Sadly, 5,000 of them will accomplish this. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in America today (and the third leading cause among teens). There are many reasons that drive a person to despise his own life. Social, economic, and domestic factors can be complex and varying in intensity.
In this article, I want to give some thoughts about Heaven. For an understanding of glory of Heaven helps a person to deal with life’s difficulties.
Jesus took His precious word to folks that had problems. In John four, Jesus met a woman who socially was despised because she was a Samaritan. Her home life indicated her problems for she had been married five times in the past. What Jesus offered her was a piece of security, a sense of recognition. This came in the means of ‘the living water’. We need to learn from this lesson.
First, God will forgive you. Paul, quoting from the Old Testament, said to the Romans, “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account” (4:8,9). God will forgive. On the blackest nights, when we commit the vilest of deeds, God will forgive us by the blood of Jesus. The Lord stated, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). Even though one’s family may never forget the treachery done, and one’s friends are no more, the God of Heaven will forgiven you. You mean of all sin? YES. Of every sin? YES. Blotted out for good? YES. Oh, the great lives that could be saved by learning of the love of God (John 3:16).
Second, God will help you. “If God is for us, who is against us?” (Romans 8:31). What greater source of encouragement, supplier of inner strength, or sympathizer to our needs do we have, than God?
Third, God is preparing a place of comfort for His children. Some day this life and all of its worries will be over. At that time, we will stand in eternity. What joy it is to know that the present difficulties won’t last forever, and someday we can be at ease with God in Heaven.
Suicide is a very real problem in this country. Parents need to open the doors of communication and feelings for their teenagers. Adults need to see beyond this life to that of eternity. Christians who don’t realize the great blessings of Christ often commit suicide. Many a Christian will commit spiritual suicide by cutting the cords that sustain him spiritually. Such things as the church, prayer and daily Bible reading all play a very important role in keeping us alive in Jesus.
Problems will only conquer you if you all them to. You cannot ignore or run from problems. Life is much too precious to throw it away or waste it on vain things. Use your time wisely. Learn to conquer problems with God’s help and be a source of strength for others.
Just a little piece of Heaven is all it takes.
Roger
April, 1986