" Whose Fault Is It ? "

John 6:31-40  "Our fathers did eat the manna in the desert; as it is written, HE gave them bread from Heaven to eat. Then JESUS said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from Heaven; but MY FATHER gives you the true bread from Heaven. For the bread of GOD is HE which comes down from Heaven, and gives life unto the world. Then said they unto HIM, LORD, evermore give us this bread. And JESUS said unto them, I AM the BREAD of life: he that comes to ME shall never hunger; and he that believes on ME shall never thirst.

But I said unto you, That ye also have seen ME, and believe not. All that the FATHER gives ME shall come to ME; and him that comes to ME I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from Heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of HIM that sent ME. And this is the FATHER's will which hath sent ME, that of all which HE hath given ME I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of HIM that sent ME, that every one which sees the SON and believes on HIM, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day."

     The story has been told of a preacher and an atheistic barber who were walking through the city slums. Looking around, the barber declared to the preacher. "This is why I cannot believe in a GOD of love. If GOD were as kind as you say, HE would not permit all this poverty, disease, and squalor. HE would not allow these bums to be addicted to dope and other character-destroying habits. I cannot believe in a GOD WHO permits these things." The preacher was silent until they met a man who was especially unkempt and filthy. His hair was hanging down his neck, and he had a half-inch of stubble on his face. Said the preacher, "You can't be a very good barber, or you wouldn't permit a man like that to continue living in this neighborhood without a haircut and shave." Indignantly the barber answered, "Why blame me for that man's condition ? I can't help it that he is like that. He has never given me a chance to help him. If he would only come to my shop, I could fix him up and make him look like a gentleman !" Giving the barber a penetrating look, the preacher said, "Then don't blame GOD for allowing these people to continue in their evil ways when HE is constantly inviting them to come and be saved. The reason these people are slaves to sin and evil habits is that they refuse the ONE WHO died to save and deliver them."

     The greatest surgeon in the world cannot help the patient who refuses to come to him or who refuses to let him do his work. The LORD JESUS CHRIST said, "Ye will not come to ME, that ye might have life" (John 5:40). All those who are willing to come to the GREAT PHYSICIAN will be wonderfully healed and eternally saved (John 6:37; 1st.Peter 2:24). GWZ
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.
Used  with  permission.  www.featoday.org