When I came into work that day, many of my coworkers were crying. Eventually, I found out why. One of our coworkers who had gone off to college that fall had committed suicide. He had taken some poison.

As I thought about Joe and what he did, I remembered some discussions we had while working together. Since I was studying to become a Lutheran pastor, he had asked about what I believed. I shared the simple message, “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” He replied, “All one has to do is believe in Jesus and he will be saved? That’s too easy.” “That’s what makes it so wonderful,” I said to him. “God did it all and gives salvation as a free gift through faith in Jesus.” Joe knew the way to eternal life.

God will forgive the sin of suicide

So what happened to Joe? Will he be in heaven? Or does one who commits suicide automatically go to hell like Judas? These are questions Christians often ask. So do pastors. The answers are especially important to families that have been touched by suicide.

Suicide is murder. There is no question about it. God alone has the right to end life. Our times are in his hands. So when someone takes his own life, he takes into his own hands what belongs in God’s hand. We must condemn suicide as murder just as God’s law does. Laying down one’s life to save another is an act of love. Taking one’s own life is the most selfish act anyone can commit!

But we must also remember that suicide is a sin for which Jesus died. Scripture clearly teaches, “The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). These are truths we know: suicide is sin and Jesus paid for all sins, yes, even the sin of taking one’s own life.

There must be repentance

But what about heaven and hell? Can a person who commits suicide go to heaven? The answer has to be that only unbelief sends people to hell. But that answer leads to the next question, “Can a person who commits suicide have faith in his/her heart?” Sometimes there is opportunity for a troubled heart to turn to Jesus for forgiveness. In such cases there is no question about heaven. But who knows if that happened? Only God and that individual know. Therefore, we must put the best construction on such situations and do all we can to comfort a grieving family searching for answers. The best place to find that comfort is at the foot of Jesus’ cross and in the precious promises of a merciful God.