Suicide Mission

Remember the shock of 9/11? We continue to be alarmed at the radical Muslims who are willing to enact a suicide mission. I’m amazed at their dedication, determination, courage, and gullibility. They believe that they embrace the truth and they will do anything to defend it. The problem is that they don’t have the truth and they are gullible enough to believe the promise that they are guaranteeing their place of honor in the hereafter. Such a radical belief is frightening.

Some people think that I am a radical also. I claim to know the truth that they deny.  I believe the promises in the Bible, no matter how preposterous they seem. I wonder, though, if I have enough faith and courage to defend what I believe at any cost. There are many martyrs throughout history who have given their lives for what they believe. Hopefully, I would gladly do the same if that were demanded of me. How about you? Do you ever think about being prepared for such a thing in the future?

Jesus is sometimes referred to as a martyr. Yes, He gave His life for a good cause. But His mission was so much more! Was it a suicide mission? He laid down His life, but here’s the difference. He didn’t kill a lot of people as He died. He saved them. Rescued them. His blood was the atoning sacrifice required by a holy God in order to redeem sinners and give them a place in His kingdom. And His resurrection guaranteed that death isn’t the end. There is life after death. Life eternal. Unending life in Heaven where original fellowship with God will be restored. Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it!

But here are the words of Jesus Himself. John 3:16: “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 10:28: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”  John 17:3: “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

Now are His words true promises or lies? Of course, I believe them to be true. If you do, too, then you owe your life to the Christ who has died and rose for you. Our mission is not a suicide one, even though we would give our lives for Him. Our mission is to serve Him forever out of gratitude for His love and sacrifice. How is your mission coming along? No need to worry about what others think, is there? What does Jesus think of how we are living today?