Where Does A Person Go After Suicide?

What is the eternal destination of a person who commits suicide?  People contemplating suicide have asked this question as well as relatives and friends of those who killed themselves.

Last year I was called to preach the funeral of a friend who committed suicide.  After a few introductory remarks, I said, “Let’s discuss what people are thinking:  What is the eternal destination of a person who commits suicide?”.

Notice three people in the Bible who killed themselves :

  1. Samson (Judges 16:25-31).
  2. King Saul (1 Samuel 31:2-5).
  3. Judas (Matthew 27:3-5; Acts 1:15-25).

I find no statement of the eternal destination of King Saul.

There is an indication that Judas was lost when Peter says that “Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place” (Acts 1:25).

However, Samson is in the list of suicides and he is also in the list of the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11.  After recalling their victories and painful experiences, the writer states, “And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us” (Hebrews 11:39, 40).  Samson is in the group of Noah, Abraham, Moses, and others.  He is one of the “great cloud of witnesses” mentioned in Hebrews 12:1.

So, my answer to this question, as well as other questions about people’s destiny who have died is, “Jesus told me not to tell you.”

Jesus said in John 5:22:  “For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son.”  God, our heavenly Father, will not judge one person.  All judgment has been given to Jesus.  Therefore, I won’t comment on something that’s none of my business.  I’m not qualified and it’s not my job.

In the funeral, I observed, “Since Jesus will take care of the judging of our friend and He will do a good job of that, let’s spend our time today remembering the ways he helped and encouraged us.”  He was a man who was especially helpful to me since I have been in interim ministry.  He watched our house as if he owned it.  He inspected it after each storm and called us with a report.  When we were back in Nashville and he saw us, he inquired about how we were doing and when we would be back.

We may have opinions about another’s destiny but Jesus will have the final word on judgment day.

Our opportunity is to minister to those hurt and are sad by the loss of a loved one.

Two books I’ve found helpful and have given to others (to view and/or purchase on Amazon, click on the books):

  1. Good Grief, by Granger Westburg.
  2. Tear Soup, by Pat Schwiebert and Chuck DeKlyen

God will judge no one. All judgment is given to Jesus — not Jesus and Jerrie (John 5:22).

What are some ways you have helped those affected by suicide?

(Visited 820 times, 27 visits today)
Jerrie Barber
Servant of Jesus, husband to Gail, father to Jerrie Wayne Barber, II and Christi Parsons, grandfather, great-grandfather, Interim Preacher, Shepherd coach, Ventriloquist, barefoot runner, ride a cruiser bicycle

15 Responses to “Where Does A Person Go After Suicide?

  • Great article. Thanks for your thoughts on such a sensitive subject,

    • Jerrie W. Barber
      9 years ago

      Thank you for your encouragement.

  • Thanks for a great article. I knew a dear brother in Christ who committed suicide about 15 years ago. I preached at his funeral and was comfortable because he was in the printing business that uses a lot of chemicals and volatile spirits which doctors he was under said basically dissolved his mental capacity. He was a fine preacher of the gospel when I was converted and I looked up to him with admiration at his ability. Then over the years he declined dramatically to the point of being no more capably than a 5 year old. It was sad to witness yet I know our elder brother and judge of all words and deeds will be righteous in His call.
    I like your eulogy of the man in your excellent piece and if you don’t mind I would like to use it in the future.
    For His cause, Graham Walker

    • Jerrie W. Barber
      9 years ago

      Graham, You have permission to use anything I write. I was born not knowing much. Everything I learned I learned from someone else. I claim no originality.

  • Joshua Pappas
    9 years ago

    Well said brother!

  • Dear brother,
    With all so respect I am curious as to why you say “I find no statement of the eternal destination of King Saul.”

    How much weight, if any is there to be put into the words of Samuel the deceased profit of God in 1 Samuel 28:19 “Moreover the Lord will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the Lord also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.”

    I certainly believe the text leads us to believe that after King Saul passed he and his sons would be “WITH me (Samuel).”

    Surely Samuel was in paradise.
    Is this not a statement about the eternal state of King Saul?

    Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.

    God bless,

    Chad
    ps. I also believe that if Judas were not in hell Jesus would not have said in Matthew 26:24

    “The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.”

    • Sorry about the typos! ^^ “do” ^^ ^^^^prophet of God, not profit!^^^^

      • Jerrie W. Barber
        9 years ago

        Chad,

        Thank you for sharing your study and thoughts. This is one of my blessings of this blog: what others teach me.

        I appreciate you taking the time to do that.

  • Lynn Alan Heath
    9 years ago

    Thank-you Brother Barber, I take great encouragement from your thoughts. Due to an accident I suffer from constant pain for which I take morphine. I have been informed that a Christian should not be depressed yet due to my medication and the constant pain I have a neurological imbalance.
    I have contemplated suicide as a means of stopping the pain and if not for a dear friend and preacher, named Dan Jenkins, and my wife and families support I would have left this world long ago. It is interesting how some can tell those who suffer from depression that they just do not have enough faith when they have no clue what depression is in the first place.

    • Jerrie W. Barber
      9 years ago

      Thank you for letting me and others know how it feels to think about ending your life. I am thankful you have friends and family who can help.
      It is my understanding that feelings are not a sin. Depression is not a sin. Jesus, in the garden of Gethsemane, said, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me” (Matthew 26:38). Without sin, Jesus said He felt so badly as to almost die. I do not sin when I feel that way. People sin by what they do not by the way they feel.
      What you did was to seek out friends who could help. That’s what followers of Jesus are to do: help others and ask for help when we need it.

    • Bob Markus
      7 years ago

      Been there: Didn’t do that and would love to communicate with Brother Heath.

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