“But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.” (John 5:40, N.K.J.V.)

A barber and a minister found themselves having to travel through a rather seedy part of town. Disgusted by the conditions he saw, the barber said, “This is why I cannot believe in a God of love. How could such a God allow all this poverty, squalor, and disease? How could He allow these poor people to continue on in their addictions?”

The minister remained silent until they saw a man who was in an especially bad way. As a part of the man’s deplorable appearance, he had long hair and a half-inch of stubble on his face. So, the minister took the opportunity to use the man as an object lesson. He said to the barber, “You must not be a very good barber. If you were any good, you wouldn’t let that man go around in such need of a haircut and a shave.” Insulted by that remark, the barbed replied, “How can you blame me for his appearance? He’s never given me a chance to fix him up.” To that, the minister said, “Then don’t blame God for the state of this neighborhood. He is constantly inviting these people to come to Him through Christ and have their lives restored, but they refuse the offer.”