Sanford Rothman told police he woke up to a "bang" and realized he had suffered a gunshot wound to his knee. Police said he likely shot himself while sleepwalking.
The sixty-three-year-old resident of Boulder, Colorado told investigators he had no clear recollection of the incident early on Tuesday.
No one else was in the home at the time. Police said Mr Rothman kept a 9mm handgun near his bed and took prescription medication for pain. He was treated at a hospital and released.
I think this man was very fortunate to have shot himself in the knee and not in the head or chest. But imagine if you will his wife or kids. The article above does not say anything about his marriage or having a family, but if you lived in the same house with a person who sleep walks with a gun and who then shoots himself, would you rest soundly? Sleeping in the same house with that man would be like having a death wish.
I think Paul had a death wish, don’t you? I mean, when you read through the Book of Acts, doesn’t seem like he had a death wish? Let me show you what I am referring to.
While staying a short time in Tyre, Paul met up with some disciples who “kept telling him through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem” (Acts 21:4). Later he sailed to Caesarea and entered the house of Philip the evangelist. It was there that a prophet named Agabus came to him. When he met Paul, he took Paul’s belt, and bound his own feet and hands and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owes this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles’” (v. 11). After hearing the prophet, the disciples and local residents begged Paul not to go to Jerusalem (v. 12). But what was his response? Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (v. 13).
Now folks, how would you determine the will of God for your life? How would you counsel someone today to comprehend and understand the voice of God? I am sure you would use the following three approaches:
1. Listen to the Holy Spirit (Acts 21:4). The verse says that they (the other believers) kept telling Paul THROUGH THE SPIRIT not to set foot in Jerusalem.
2. Listen to a recognized prophet (vv. 10-11). Agabus clearly spoke and gave a physical demonstration on what would happen to Paul if he set foot in Jerusalem.
3. Listen to the counsel of others (v. 12). The rest of the disciples and the local residents pleaded with him not to go to Jerusalem.
Now folks, listen carefully. If you heard from the Holy Spirit, a prophet and the counsel of other believers – three different voices all saying the same thing, wouldn’t you conclude that perhaps it would not be a great idea to go to Jerusalem? And wouldn’t you pause to thank God for making His will so clearly known to you?
You know what happened, right? He went to Jerusalem anyway. Was Paul disobedient to God? I personally think Paul had a death wish.
Let me show you why. There is a reason why he ignored the voice of the Holy Spirit, a prophet and other disciples. Paul had a death wish.
In Acts 14, while serving in Lystra, Paul was severely stoned to death by a multitude (v. 19). He actually died. Paul talked about this event in his life in 2 Corinthians 12, referring to him being out of his body and caught up to the third heaven (v. 2). While he was in Paradise, he heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak (v. 4).
Paul evidently was privy to revelation that blew his mind. I do think that God only gave to Paul partial revelation. For he states that he “heard inexpressible words,” nothing about seeing anything. I think God must have kept his eyes shut from seeing things in Paradise, but nevertheless what he heard left an indelible impression of him that lasted his whole life.
When Paul returned back to his body (Acts 14:20), he got right back up and started preaching again. And a short time later, guess where he goes? Right back to Lystra (v. 21), the very place where he was stoned to death.
Paul had a death wish. You know why? Because he had died and was caught up to heaven and heard some really neat things and couldn’t wait to go back. Paul knew that suicide was not the way to go home. So he went and preached where he was hated the most knowing that the chances of dying was highly possible, but he did not care, he wanted to die and be with Jesus which was far better. Paul had a death wish.
I mean, how else can we explain the mindset of the man who ignores the Holy Spirit, won’t listen to a prophet and shuts out the counsel of other believers? “Paul, don’t go to Jerusalem. You will suffer and possibly die there.” What was his reply, “Stop breaking my heart with your warnings. If you experienced Paradise the way I did, and if you heard the things I heard, you would lead the way to Jerusalem and be the first to die.”
Paul had a death wish. How else could we explain his remarks when he states: “I have a desire to depart and be with Christ which is VERY MUCH BETTER” (Philip. 1:23)? Elsewhere he boldly states, “I die daily” (1 Cor. 15:31). Paul was exposed to so many physical attacks and dangers on his life. He lived for such moments. He had a death wish.
How about this testimony?
I have. . .been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers (2 Cor. 11:23ff). Paul had a death wish.
Here is my point. Paul was not someone who was consumed with death. No I do not mean death wish in terms of this. But Paul was not concerned at all with trying to live a long life here on earth. He was consumed with fulfilling Jesus’ purpose for him and finishing the course that the Lord gave to him to run. But if running the course meant that he would face extreme physical dangers and possibly die, instead of backing down, Paul ran full steam ahead! He knew what awaited him on the other side.
Paul’s courage in the face of death is a great encouraging lesson to each of us. Whatever he heard while in Paradise, left a remarkable and long lasting impression upon him. Whatever he experienced, we will experience one day. I am almost positive that if any one of us were to be caught up to the third heaven and experience Paradise, we would hope that someone would come along and put us out of our misery just so we can return to the glory of Paradise.
Heaven is ready and waiting. Don’t do anything stupid, right? But when the time comes for your name to be called and for you to soon have your out of body experience called death, will you passionately welcome it, or be too sad to leave? I think all true Christians have to some degree based on their maturity in Christ their own death wish.
