A man visited a barbershop to have his hair cut. They talked about many things and then the barber said: “I don’t believe that God exists. You just have to go out in the street to realise that God doesn’t exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be abandoned children, wars, suffering and pain?” Just after the customer left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long hair. The customer turned back to the barber and said: “You know what? Barbers do not exist. Barbers don’t exist because if they did, there would be no people with long hair like that man outside.” “Ah, but barbers DO exist! What happens is, people do not come to me.” “Exactly!” affirmed the customer. “That’s the point! God, too, 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.
When you accept Jesus as your Saviour you become God’s child. You become aware of his love and grace and you know that you should live to his glory. You become a new person. 2Co 5:17 When somebody accepts Christ in his life, he becomes a brand-new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun!
Generally speaking, children resemble their parents. If we are God’s children, we will experience his Spirit in us and we will be changed increasingly to reflect his image. Gal. 5:22-23 But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self-control. Imagine a world where all people reflect the image of God like this. It will be heaven on earth — exactly what God wants for his children.
It is tragic that many people do not come to God but choose to live according to their sinful nature. Every day we read about people who are brutally murdered, women who are raped, etc. But let us not judge other people. How many times do we not “murder” people spiritually by ignoring them, gossiping, being unfaithful, being rude to them, yelling at them, abusing them, quarreling, etc. Bad relationships with God and others make it hell on earth. Again: That’s why there’s so much pain and suffering in the world. That is not what God has planned for us!
Do what God wants his children to do: Think now of people you have contact with each day. Decide now, that from today, you will be kind to them. Decide now that you will make peace with each person with whom you have a bad relationship. You cannot afford to live as if God does not exist.
Dear God, please help me to freely allow the working of your Spirit in me, so that my life may demonstrate love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self-control. I want to help make this world the place You want it to be. Amen
