In one week, the world was rocked when Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain each committed suicide. Weren’t you tempted to take your pulse to see if you were still OK? If these larger-than-life successful people couldn’t figure out life, do I have it figured out?
I confess, I knew nothing of Kate Spade, but Anthony Bourdain—I sometimes watched on TV, heard him speak at a conference and attempted to read one of his books.
There are many contributing factors to why people commit suicide. Mental illness, sickness, side effects of medication, hormones… many things. But I suspect I know what contributed to Anthony Bourdain’s demise. Lack of peace. I read that he “battled personal demons.” He’s not alone. Twice in the book of Isaiah you’ll find the verse “There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked.”
So, here is the condition, not only of Anthony Bourdain, but all of us in our natural state: As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God… there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: … And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes. (Rom. 3:10-18)
I don’t think Anthony Bourdain had peace because he did not know God. He wore his thoughts on his sleeve. I couldn’t read his books because of his filthy language, that interestingly, I read in one article is something people adored about him. He was quick to curse and deny God. In most of the episodes of his program, he was drunk. His traveling job led him to embrace every culture’s pagan practices, and therefore not adhere to any particular truth. He probably wondered, “What is truth?” He may have even doubted there is absolute truth in deference to the many beliefs of the cultures he got to know. To curse God and reject Him and His word as truth sets a person up to battle personal demons. It’s a life of agitation.
I know this because this was me. I also had no peace when I rejected everything having to do with Christ. I seriously contemplated suicide. Lack of peace leads to lack of purpose, which leads to hopelessness. Had I not been told the gospel of Jesus Christ and received it when I did, I am quite certain I would not be here today. (The bumper sticker is right: No Jesus. No peace. Know Jesus. Know peace.)
God made each of us to have a relationship with Him, but because we’re all sinners who do and think bad things, we don’t have a relationship with Him. God wants us to be close to Him, but He knew our sin would forever keep us apart from Him. So He sent his perfect son, Jesus Christ, to live that perfect life, die on the cross to take the penalty for our sin, rose again the third day to conquer death, and now He’s alive and offers us to be reconciled to God simply by placing our faith in Him and what He did on the cross for us. That’s the gospel. I heard it and accepted it, and immediately I had peace, hope and purpose.
This is what Anthony Bourdain never experienced, but he could have if he would have only believed: Col. 1:20-21 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (21) And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.
He never was reconciled to God. Jesus was compassionate about lack of peace. He said, Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)
So, if you’re reading this and you completely relate to lack of peace, please do not commit suicide. Instead, get your heart right with God by accepting what Christ did for you. Pray and tell Him you know you’ve sinned, you are sorry, and that you know Jesus died for you, and you want to accept what He did for you. Ask Him to come into your life and save you.
Richmond and I have each written books that should help you with the issue you face. Richmond’s book specific to this topic is “The Happiness Code.” It explains from Solomon’s life and the Bible book he wrote, Ecclesiastes, why people can’t find happiness under the sun, and how you CAN find happiness. You will find the book off to the right side of the page here. You can actually download it for free.
I wrote a book about depression, “Ditch Depression Devotional,” and you will see a link to get you started reading that off to the right also.
There is complete hope in Christ. There’s a reason to live. You can live a peaceful happy life. If you wonder what church you could go to and talk to someone, I’d say generally, a Baptist church would be a good place to start. Look for the pastor and ask him your questions. God bless you, and don’t give up.
Jody