July 10
1 Chron 9:1-10:14 | PS 8:1-9 | Prov 18:23-24 | Acts 27:21-44
There has been a significant rise in the level of suicide, especially after the recent lockdowns, affecting all age groups. It is now the 11th leading cause of death in the United States, with a staggering rise in the past decade among those under 24 years of age. The life and death of King Saul poses some interesting and thought provoking questions. Saul chose to take his own life once surrounded and injured on Mount Gilboa. Some have considered this the unpardonable sin, but nowhere in Scripture is this stated. The Bible describes the lives of six men who took their own life (Samson, Saul's armor-bearer, Ahithophel, Abimilech, Zimri, and Judas). Nowhere does it state their eternal destiny was wrapped up with this decision. Suicide is murder: self-murder, as God alone has the right to decide when and how one dies. Despite the desperate state of one's life, time and time again, God has shown through His Word, how He can change beauty into ashes. So, from Scripture, suicide is a sin, no worse than other evils, in terms of how God sees sin, and one's eternal destiny is not wrapped up into that decision, though this act often has a profound effects on those left in it's aftermath.
The next question often posed, is: "Was King Saul saved?" We must remember that one's salvation rests with God, not with us, with human consensus. Only God knew the condition of Saul's heart. The case against Saul's salvation is vast and includes his jealousy, hatred, murder, direct disobeying of God's law, his slaughter of the priests, his consultation with a witch, etc. The Bible does state that one's spiritual transformation will be evidenced by one's fruit (Matthew 7:16-20). But we can't dismiss the earlier parts of Saul;s life where there seemed to be a true conversion experience (1 Samuel 10), along with some good moments earlier on when he was obedient to the call of God. Saul lost everything on earth due to his decisions, as we read the sad conclusion in 1 Chronicles 10:13-14, which sums it up, "So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the Lord, because he did not keep the word of the Lord, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance. But he did not inquire of the Lord; therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse."
We should consider this, it is not our place to judge another's salvation. All too often we hear one say this one is saved, or that one is not saved, as though we have the inside track into the internal machinery of one's heart. Yes, it is true that we do observe the fruits of one's life and make assumptions. But only God truly knows the eternal destination of others. Do you have the ability to know your own relationship? Yes, you are either in or not in a personal relationship with Jesus, and He wants you to rest in the truth and peace which comes with that decision. For us who have made this decision, we must never rest on assumptions with others. We need to remain diligent about never stopping about presenting Jesus to everyone and anyone, for this is why we are here, and this is why the Lord continues to give us breath, to be about His business of bringing the hope of salvation to any who might be willing this day, as tomorrow is not guaranteed.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: