Decisions in the Dark
Today I would like to deal with a very sobering topic from a lesson I taught in Sunday School this past weekend. The entire lesson was from my newest book (the one that's not even finished yet) called "Footprints on the Water." God revealed several interesting nuggets for the lesson, and I was eager to share them with the class and later with you. But as I prayed over what portion to post this morning, I strongly felt the Lord leading towards the following excerpt from the story of Paul and Silas in prison. I don't know why He chose this portion or who it's for, but I pray it will be a blessing to someone.
Andthe keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing theprison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killedhimself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. - Acts 16:27
Poor guy! He was just trying to do his job, although I don't thinkhe was actually supposed to be sleeping, but that's another thoughtfor another day. This poor soldier is awakened from his sleep, nodoubt by the earthquake, and the first thing he notices is that allof the cell doors are standing open. He naturally assumes theprisoners have escaped. Why wouldn't they? Why, indeed! In hisforlorn state, his first instinct is to take out his sword and endhis life.
Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem, yet sadly isthe only solution some can see when surrounded by darkness.Statistics show that suicide is attempted once every 40 seconds inthe US alone. For a myriad of reasons, people see death as theironly option or escape. The Philippian jailer felt the same way. Wecan only imagine the thoughts that must have been running rampantthrough his mind, but I feel they were thoughts many of us can relateto.
I'msuch a failure.Despite his desire to do his job, the jailer thought he had failed,and failure is a powerful thing. It can sap you of your strength andyour joy. It can bring about feelings of worthlessness. It is apopular tool in Satan's workshop, one that's proven its effectiveness.It's a shame the jailer didn't have the words of Winston Churchill,“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it isthe courage to continue that counts.”Yes, failure is hard. Sure, it's difficult to get back up, dustourselves off and try again. But our effort is not in vain, and wemust remember that we are not walking alone.
My family would be better off without me. Ioften wonder how many times these have been someone's last words.They messed up (as we are all prone to do), but rather than bringdisgrace to their family, they decide to end it all. The cause seemsnoble, but I guarantee you that if you asked that person's loved oneswhat they thought about it, they would tell you that they would muchrather have lived with the shame than lost their loved one. In theheat of the moment, in the midnight hour, everything seems so darkand hopeless. That is not the time to make a decision. Wait for thedawn. If the jailer had waited until the light of dawn filled theprison, he would have seen that the prisoners were still there. Hewouldn't have needed Paul's intervention. No matter how hopeless thesituation may seem, give it time, and talk to your family. I'm surethey're willing to walk the road with you.
Ihave nothing left to live for.At this point, the jailer realizes that as soon as his superiorsfind out the prisoners have escaped, they're going to kill him.Mercy was not shown to those who failed to do their jobs. From thejailer's point of view, there was no reason to live. What he didn'tsee, however, was God's point of view. God wasn't done with thisman. He still had a plan, a job that only this man could accomplish.From God's point of view, this man had so much to live for. When itseems as if you've lost everything and there's nothing worth livingfor, remember that you're only seeing from one point of view. Godstill has a plan for you. He's not done with you yet. He has a jobthat only you can do, and He'll give you everything you need toaccomplish that job. Don't quit on God. He didn't quit on you.