We have all heard this
saying, and more people than imaginable have had nothing but
sour lemons to
suck on for a spell. The smart ones do make lemonade.
People have contacted me over
the years, deeply hurting and going through terrible times for one reason or
another. All hope is gone. They’re frightened, and some even think life is just
too much to deal with anymore. They want a quick fix, but rarely will that be
the case. So what do we do to make lemonade?
Let me say this first.
Whether you’re a Christian or not a Christian, suicide is not an option.
I have been asked if a
Christian will go to Heaven if he/she commits suicide. Suicide is a sin, and
Jesus paid for all our sins. When He saved us, He gave us His righteousness and
made us a child of the Kingdom of God. It’s called being born again. (John 3:7)
He has guaranteed by His Spirit that we will always belong to Him and He will
never lose any of us who are His. (John 10:27-30) Therefore, yes, a Christian
would go to Heaven, but that is not the right decision to make, and it is not
our decision to make.
God created life and gave us
all physical life. For those who come to Him by Jesus Christ, he gives us
eternal life. Even though we would retain our gift of eternal life, our earthly
life is too precious a gift from our Creator to think so little of it.
It’s the coward’s way out. When
we think so little of His gift of life and think so little of His power to take
care of us, this action would be like spitting in God’s face. It breaks the
hearts of loved ones. Think of the stigma it places on the family. It stops any
potential we have for being a lighthouse for our Lord.
Another thing to consider is
for the people who take this route, are they truly a Christian? Yes, a
Christian could commit suicide. For example, they may have had a head injury
and suicidal problems arise. But what if they think they’re a Christian and are
not? What a horrible thought to commit suicide, thinking, “I’ll just get out of
this and go to Heaven,” but actually go to hell.
This is not the way to make
lemonade. This is the way to allow the lemons to rot, and now you have nothing
but rotten, sour lemons.
Very few of us have gone
through life without problems. Actually, I may be wrong. Perhaps none of us
have avoided problems. One thing is certain, if you live long enough, you will
have problems.
The thing with problems is
that we don’t all have the same problems, and we all don’t have them to the
same degree. Let me give an example. With one person, their life may have been
turned upside down from their children being in a gang, while another may have
spousal problems, and even another may have financial problems. Even with these
examples, some may have the same problems, but they may be more severe with one
person and not very severe with another person. Regardless, at least most of us
do eventually go through the “Job” experience.
I think it’s time, praying
that it will help someone, for me to relay some of the problems I’ve been
through.
I’m conversing with a
gentleman at present who has gone through divorce, lost his family, and is
about to lose his home. He has lost a lot of weight, and unfortunately, is
drinking. About thirty years ago I went through the same thing, except I didn’t
drink or turn to drugs. I went through a long belt-tightening period of abject
misery. It seemed there was no hope whatsoever.
Now I don’t know about the
gentleman I am conversing with, but none of this was of my own doing. It just
happened, and I had to deal with it. I learned a lot of lessons from this
experience, one being, other than God and your family; you’re on your own. I
had been in church my whole life, had pastored for several years, but quickly
discovered that since I had gone through a divorce I was treated like a dog
with the mange, and trust me, I’m being kind.
I thank God that I was raised
in a Christian home and always studied my Bible from a young age. Now I’m not
saying I was “Little Lord Fauntleroy” growing up. I was just a typical boy and
no one special as a man. But I did have the background to know that God would
be my true source for guidance in trying times, at any time for that matter. I
always took my problems, and there were many, to my Father in Heaven.
I went through years
wondering if the sun would ever shine again in my life. The valley just seemed
too dark on many occasions to have much hope. A lot of tears fell, a lot of
sleepless nights were mine, but I just knew that eventually the sun would move
the clouds out of my life and shine again. I would feel the warmth of it on my
back and be able to smile again.
For a long time bitterness
was in my heart. I would rock back and forth trusting God and “doing it my
way.” Finally one day I got on my knees and just asked Him to take over, and I
meant it. From that day forward, nearly thirty years ago, the sun started
peeking through the clouds, then slowly shining full force. He, God, has
rebuilt everything that was lost and made it even better than it was before.
I am a living example, as are
thousands of other Christians, that God will see you through your problems, if
you will let Him. It won’t always be easy, and it may take a while, but it will
work out if you let God handle your life. Just trust Him. If life has given you
lemons, let God make you lemonade.
Grant Phillips
Email: grantphillips@windstream.net
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
