The following letter was sent to the Editor of the ’Belfast Newsletter’ on 21st June at the suggestion of one of our readers, after they read the ‘Burning Bush’ article:—
It has not yet appeared in the ‘letter’ columns of that newspaper BUT perhaps it will yet!
If it doesn’t, it is sad that a newspaper which seems to take a stand for at least some of the standards that have their basis in the Bible, should choose to ignore a letter highlighting the dismissal, by nearly all public representatives, of a cardinal doctrine of the gospel – the doctrine of eternal punishment of the unsaved – and thus join the ranks of those, who during the ‘Assisted Dying’ debate, choose to ignore this most vital gospel truth.
Sincere regards,
Ivan Foster
Sir,
ONE VITAL SUBJECT MATTER WAS ABSENT FROM THE ‘ASSISTED DYING’ DEBATE’!
In any report of the debate that I have seen, I did not read of anyone mentioning the most vital of all factors as the matter was debated in Parliament!
Where is the one, ‘assisted’ in the ending of their life, going to?
It is not a feature of modern religion to preach that there is a HELL awaiting those who die without personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Saviour stated this matter most plainly.
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him,” John 3:36.
To take one’s own life, whether it be legalised to do so or not, is very much contrary to God’s Law. There is a penalty for defying and disobeying the Word of God. Judas, the most infamous of suicides, undoubtedly went immediately to a lost eternity. Of him Christ said: “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled,” John 17:12.
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels,” Mark 8:36-38.
Were people aware of the reality, the most terrible reality of hell, they would not use the time that remains to them to murder themselves, but rather, like the thief on the cross, seek pardon and saving mercy from the Saviour.
“And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise,” Luke 23:39-43.
That man’s last minute repentance resulted in him dying with the assuring words of Christ echoing in his ears! “To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
Gone are the days of men like the Reformer and Martyr, Hugh Latimer. He preached before Henry VIII and strongly condemned his sins. The sermon displeased his majesty and he was therefore commanded to preach again on the next Sabbath, and to make an apology for the offence he had given. He did preach again but made no apology, rather he was even stronger in his condemnation of the royal sins!
Those legislators who have ignored and disregarded the Law of God and legalised ‘self murder’, will face a terrible harvest under God’s wrath. They will also have to endure the eternal curses of those they persuaded to take their own lives, only for them to discover for ever and ever the dreadful folly they have committed.
Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)
21st June 2025
