A story is told of a believer in Jehovah and Jesus Christ and for the purpose of the story's clarity; we will call this man John. John, a servant of Jehovah, went into a barber shop with the intention to use the barber service as was his custom. When he entered the shop, he realized he walk on a heated argument; the occupants of the shop were debating the existence of God. The barber, who was a professed atheist, argued that God do not exist and he presented some valid point to support the argument that there is no God. Unable to maintain his silence, John interjected and said; “how can you say that God does not exist”? He asked with a level of seriousness in his voice, then he continued “when you consider your body, how it is so wonderfully and intricately made, isn’t that a sign that there is a god?” He asked. “Lets take for example, the complexity of the human brain, its power to think and operate the other components of the body; isn’t that evidence that there is a God? When you consider, the simple yet complex relationship between the body, brain and the mind, we can not do anything but to conclude that there is a God. There must be a God, a far superior and powerful intelligence that design and bring such complex design to reality. Where did all of these complex creatures that inhabits the earth came from? Have you considered the earth, and the beautiful vastness of the heavens, The Bible said that we are wonderfully and fearfully made; I know one thing; and that is, we were no accident as some would have us believe. ”Yes we were all created by God and he ensures that everything functions in the manner in which it was design to function.
Now that John had the attention of all present in the barbershop he continued. “Jehovah the creator of the Universe and every thing that in it is, is a loving God, he loves you and he want to save you.”
It was then the barber interrupted the smooth flow of John’s monolog. “Ok, if there is a loving God who created everything; why does he allow so many people to suffering and die? How do you justify the starvation and millions and the millions of people that die from a lack of food in Africa? If there is a God, why did he allow the recent tsunamis to kill over a hundred thousand people and had those who survive experiences such hardship? If there is a God, why does he allow the people he made and love to undergo so much suffering? You answer these questions; the barber said confidently. Until you can answer these questions; there is no God”.
John was certainly not prepared to answer such pointing and honest question. As a matter of fact, these are question man have been searching for answer to, for centuries, yet there is no conclusive answer that can satisfy man’s desire to know why such things happens.
The barbershop became quiet, and all eyes were focused on John, as they waited for his answer to the question. Unfortunately John did not have an answer to give. And with a tone of defeat he quietly and humbly admitted that he was unable to answer the questions.
When the business for which John went to the barbershop was completed, he left the Barbershop a defeated man; he was unable to be a witness for Jehovah to the Barbers and the other members who were in the shop.
After he left the shop, John saw a homeless man, standing on the sidewalk, outside the barber shop. The homeless man asked John for some money to take care of his needs; as john was retrieving the money from his purse, he noticed the man was un-kept, the hair on his head was long, tangled and discolored from a lack of care; his facial heir was long and had food particles trapped in them. From the looks of the man, John concluded that the homeless man, who stood before him had not used the service of the barber in many years.
John looked at the man and smile; he did not smile mockingly but appreciatively. John handed the man the token he solicited, turn around and boldly walk into the barbershop once more. When he was all the way in the shop and the door was securely closed behind him, he declared loudly; “Barbers do not exist!” the barbers and those who were in the shop looked at John strangely; John repeated himself once more ensuring that his words were heard and fully understood by all.
The atheist barber looked at John puzzled and wondered about his outrageous statement. “What do you mean, Barbers don’t exist?” he asked. John smiled at the reply of the barber, then continued; if Barbers existed why is there so many un-groomed people in the world? John asked confidently. The barber not knowing where John was going with the discussion and still basking in the victory he had over John some minutes ago, smile and decide to confidently answer the question and expose John; showing that there were no relevance or rational to his new line of reasoning.
The barber replied; “I cannot go out there and groom people who don’t want to be groomed; if I did, I may be going against the will of the individual; I will be violating that persons rights. You must understand everyone, has the right to choose. If they want me and my service they will come to me.
The smile on John’s face grew bigger, as he patiently awaited his turn to speak. This time he did not have to think of what to say, he knew exactly what must be said. When the barber was finished John said. It is the same thing with Jehovah the God who created the universe. Jehovah just cannot go out and interfere in people’s life just because he wants to; He cannot overturn people's choices because he is aware they made bad decisions.
Jehovah made us free, intelligent beings, we have the right to make our own decisions good or bad. Jehovah is there with open arms waiting for us to come to him and asked him for help, for guidance, and protection. When we asked he will answer and he will address our request. Jehovah cannot protect us from the wilds of the devil if we don’t want to be protected from such; for him to interfere in our life without our request, would be a violation of our right and it would also mean that we are not free. In the same manner, you cannot violate the rights of the man who want to go un-kept or un-groomed, in the same manner Jehovah cannot protect the life, health, provide protection and sustenance to people who do not want him to provide that service to them; however he is ready, willing and able to provide such service to anyone who so desire when they asked.
You see Jehovah is a righteous God; he can only do what is right. It is the right of man to be free to make decisions even if that decision is to reject Jehovah’s love, his kindness, his grace and his salvation.
Apart from being righteous Jehovah is Just. He cannot give to a person what they do not deserve. If you want the good that Jehovah has to offer, you cannot reject him, his words, his promises, and his love and still expect to benefit from him. Justice says you will get what you deserve however Galatians 6:7 put it nicely: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
The new living bible put it this way: “Don't be misled--you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.”
I have not and will not be able to answer your question for the answer is with Jehovah, but what I have done is to give you a better understanding of who Jehovah is and how he operates.
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