Winder, Georgia,
July,27,1938.
By G.W.S.Ware.
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THE BACKGROUND OF A SUICIDE

A suicide, is a person who kills himself; self murder.

Brutus committed suicide, because of defeat, and his enemy cried out over his dead body: "Oh Brutus, wouldst thou hadst given me the pleasure of sparing thee thy life." Far back beyond that, the Devil led on the first King of the Jews to do the same crime, and for the same reason (1 Sam. 31:4). But the most prominent suicide of all ages is Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Jesus Christ, and because he missed the object of his betrayal, he brought on himself a horible death (Acts 1:18); but before he did it, Satan entered into him (Lu. 22:3). All suicides, have a background whereon they had dealings with the Devil, else they would not commit a crime against themselves, after which there is no time for repentance, or a chance to forsake such a sin and have the blood of Christ to blot it out and save them from it. No one can enter eternity through self murder, and live in the presence of God (1 Jo. 3:15). It is hard but true, that suicide is the quickest and shortest road to reach the personal presence of the Devil, and stay in it forever.

I had a friend, not here or in Florida, I liked very much, who was a hard worker, good manager, honest, and I thought had common sense and sanity. He would let me know that he liked to hear me preach, more often than any other one of my acquaintance. I often tried to lead him to the Lord Jesus Christ, so he could save him from Satan, and it seems to me now, I never made a more signal failure. It seemed to me, that he had fore sworn himself, never to make a public step toward the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is a public as well as a private Saviour, and he cannot be divided between the two (Luke 9:26).

This friend was one of the worst money lovers I ever had the displeasure of knowing. It hurt his other good qualities with me. An idolatrous money worshiper, is an abomination to God and man; and his god will kill him, soon or late, if he will not repent. Once, many years ago, I preached for days in a protracted meeting, near his home. He would come, give attention, but give no sign that he craved eternal life, by faith in Jesus Christ. He would entertain me in his home, but would not accept Jesus Christ in his life. I made no charge for my time and labor, but the Church took up a collection, which amounted to a few dollars. I paid no attention to who gave, and who did not; but after dismission, and before I left the pulpit, this friend came up, spread out about 64 cents on the pulpit board, saying, that he would help me that much. He would not put it in the collection, for he seem to want me to know, that he gave that much, all of that, himself. He had told me before, how much money he had in the bank; and his manner indicated that he felt his 64 cents a goner, a loss when in my possession. After this I could appreciate more than ever, the attitude of God, where he says, "He loves a cheerful giver." 2 Cor. 9:7.

Years came and went and this friend had a large well stocked farm, but there came in the back of his neck and head, terific pains. But before he would part with some of his money to pay a doctor to help him, and before he would pay a dentist to extract his old rotten tooth, he kept them in his mouth; until, it is supposed, the pain so unbearable in his head, he became desperate, he went to his barn, and all alone he fixt a rope around his neck, threw it over a joist, and made that rope break his neck; and he was buried in a $400. coffin, a part of which could have paid the doctor and dentist, with whose aid, perhaps, he would a well man to day, in place of going into eternity unbidden unwelcome, a dupe of the devil to commit suicide.

Copyright © 2006 Brett W. Smith. All rights reserved.