[Biblemat] Bulletin Article: HIS NAME WAS JAKE

[Jack Wise]

            HIS NAME WAS JAKE

 

            Jake's parents were normal compared to other parents. They both
worked. They had two other children, girls, whom they cared for. Shelter and
food and everyday child maintenance were provided for. His parents were on
and off "church" goers of a local denomination. Even though they lacked
total dedication, they were loving caring parents who were good to their
children.

            Jake was a typical young man of fourteen who enjoyed the normal
boy stuff. Fishing, four wheeling, and playing video games was part of his
life. Like many of his contemporaries, Jake was starting to find out a
little more each day what kind of man he would eventually become. Amongst
other things in his life, he found girls interesting, and had a young girl
whom he called his "girl friend", though they never officially went on a
date.

            Jake hung himself. Alcohol and drugs were ruled out. Insanity,
anger, hatred, getting even, loneliness, or any other emotion we can imagine
fails to answer the "why" he hung himself. He told another young man that
life wasn't worth living because his girl friend broke up with him. That may
answer the immediate "cause" but "why" can only be found in the scriptures.

            Jake committed suicide. In simple terms, he murdered himself.
When Noah and his sons left the ark, God blessed them and told them to be
fruitful and multiply upon the earth. He then gave strict teachings
concerning the blood. Man could not eat the blood, for the life of the flesh
is in the blood, Gen 9:4; Lev 17:11. God then explains to Noah that whoever
sheds man's blood, then by man shall his blood be shed. Life must be given
for life! When Jesus came to this earth, He shed His blood, Heb 9:11-14, for
mankind that they might have life and have it more abundantly, John 10:10.
Without Jesus blood, man would be eternally lost. Jesus life had no effect
for Jake because Jake took his own life, he stood alone. 

            Jake didn't put God first. "Blessed are they which do hunger and
thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." (Matt 5:6) Jake
failed to seek the kingdom of God first , Matt 6:33. He should have
practiced loving God with his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his
strength, and with all his mind (Luke 10:27) This is the first and great
commandment! (Matt 22:38)

Jake placed his affections in the wrong place. He should have set his
affections above, and not on the earth (Col 3:1-2) The GREEK word for
"affection" is phroneo which means to direct one's mind to, to seek, to
strive. We learn a lesson through our brother the apostle Peter. During the
fourth watch at night, there was a terrible wind storm that rocked the ship.
Jesus came walking unto the disciples on the water. Peter said, "Lord, if it
be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water."  Jesus invited Peter to come
to him and Peter left the ship and began to walk on the water! "But when he
saw the boisterous wind, "he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried,
saying, Lord, save me." (Matt 14:24-30) What caused this change in Peter,
going from brave to having little faith, as Jesus said? (Matt 14:31) Because
Peter set his eyes away from Jesus and became too concerned with the affairs
of world around him! 

            Jake's thoughts deceived him. He told himself there was nothing
to live for. Paul said our minds can become corrupted even as the serpent
beguiled Eve through his subtilty (2 Cor 11:3). We are to guard our minds.
Jake convinced himself that his family, friends, and future were worth
nothing compared to the ache in his heart over one girl. All he felt was
agony. Jake will never come to the peace God offers, "which passeth all
understanding, that is able to keep our hearts and minds through Christ
Jesus. (Phil 4:7) Jake should have redirected his mind to think on good
things. (Phil 4:8) 

            Whatever the problem man confronts, taking matters into their
own hands causes more sorrows, pains, and undo stress. The family Jake left
behind now has to deal with the agony of missing him and the manner in which
he died. If Jake had realized God's deep concern and love for him, then he
could have taken his problem to God and cast his cares upon Him (1 Pet 5:7)
We are warned to be anxious for nothing but in "every thing by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."
(Phil 4:6) 

            Murdering oneself during troublesome time is not the solution.
There is a refuge we can turn too and that is the Lord, (Psa 9:9) He is our
refuge and our fortress, "in him will I trust." (Psa 91:2) Burdens of life
are overwhelming at sometimes or so it may seem. Submitting to the cares of
the world causes us to become unfruitful for the kingdom of heaven! 

 

Jack Wise

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