The Nature Of God

I recently received the following email:

The Bible says to have an answer for why you believe; to those who ask you.

This is a good example of an answer to one of the most common reasons sinners give for ignoring God and His goodness.

A Christian went to his favorite barber shop for his weekly haircut and beard trimming. In the course of their conversation, they touched upon the subject of God. The barber said: ^Look man, I don^t think that God exists as you believe.^ ^Why do you think that?^ asked the Christian. ^Well, it^s so easy; you only have to go out in the street to realize that God does not exist. If God existed, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abused or crippled children? If God existed, there would be no suffering or pain. Would there be murder or even war? I cannot imagine a loving God who would permit ANY of these things.^ The Christian didn^t want to enter into an argument and could think of no immediate response to the barber^s logic. The barber finished his job and the Christian fellow left the shop. The moment he stepped out the door he saw a man sitting on the curb whose long hair and beard were in need of a barber^s attention (It looked so long, dirty and untidy). The Christian turned and reentered the barber shop and said to the barber: ^You know what? Barbers absolutely do not exist!^ ^How can you say that barbers do not exist?^ exclaimed the barber. ^Well, I^m here and I^m a barber. I just cut your hair!!!^ ^No!^ the Christian exclaimed. ^Barbers do not exist; because if they did exist, there would be no people with long hair and stringy beard like that man out there in the street, sitting on the curb.^ ^Oh, barbers do indeed exist! What happens is that people first have to come to me. They seek me out and find me!^ ^You are exactly! right!^~ affirmed the Christian. ^That^s exactly the point! God does exist, what happens is people don^t go to Him and do not look for Him. That^s why there^s so much pain and suffering in the world.^ If you know that God does indeed exist, forward this email to others. If you do NOT believe that God exist, then simply delete it.

eric

Upon emailing this light humour to others one responded pointing out that the barbers main problem was not whether or not God existed but rather the nature of God. How could a righteous God allow such pain and suffering? The christian did not address this problem in the story. Please allow me to put forth one possible scenario.

The world as we see it today is full of violence, famine, disease, poverty. The fact is that violence is a choice that man makes. The world contains enough resources, fertile soil, fresh water and good weather to be able to produce enough food to feed the entire population. Man chooses not to do that. If the entire population were fed disease would be greatly reduced and poverty would not be an issue.

What if God is allowing man to have his own way in order to see just what he will do. Will he attempt to do good or just become totally self~centered. I propose that God sees that man^s ways are futile and so He has sent His prophets of old who were greatly rejected. He has sent His only begotten son Jesus who overcame sin, was greatly rejected but was sacrificed for the forgiveness of our sins. God^s plan continues with the resurrection of Jesus onto eternal life, giving us hope and reason to believe. The next step is the first resurrection of the saints, those who obey Jesus teachings, to live and reign with Jesus during the day of the Lord, a one thousand year period. Following that, the second resurrection for the day of judgement, a period that may last another thousand years. This second resurrection will give people who have not had proper instruction about Jesus and His teachings a fair opportunity to hear and to accept it. Those who reject it will be condemned to a second and permanent death. Those who accept Him will be given eternal life.

So I see a thoughtful God who does not force people to follow Jesus but gives them a free will to do as they please. I see a loving God who is willing to give eternal life to a loving people. I see a fair God who will eliminate those who harbour injustice, malice, hatred and evil.

2007 Jacques Gauvin

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