WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A PLACE TO LIVE

By Mark E. Cline

Introduction:

There are many options to us as American’s as to where we choose to live. So it is a good topic to write upon, and I am just in a writing mood with a few minutes. I pondered this thought once when I was a young lad, just moving out into the world. And I really didn't want anyone’s advice as to where to live, after all I was now a man, standing on my own two feet. Or was I? Anyway that is a long and sometimes adventurous story, although sometimes dull and methodical. Here are four things I have found to be of importance when considering where to live.

(1). A Sound Church. A good sound Church needs to be in close proximity to where you decide to locate. Now I say this because I am saved by the grace of God. Not anything to do with me being some great person, because I am not. I am wicked and corrupt, and aside from the merciful grace of God, would be Hell bound and deservedly so... Yet by His grace I am saved, and I am what I am because of Him (God). So having said all of that let me get back to my first point. The importance of a good sound bible believing and bible teaching church should never be under estimated. Or ignored in the process of selecting a place to live.

It is there that your Spiritual needs are attended to, and your Christian stewardship is encouraged and used of God. Jesus Christ receives glory through His Church. And it is there that your brothers and sisters in Christ along with you grow in Spirit and truth, and stature as saints of the Living God. Contained in the church there are bowels of mercy that cannot really be fully understood by the world, or at times even family members who don't belong to the church. There is a watchfulness of your well being in the Lord’s church. Often this comes directly from God through the pastor who He has placed there to tend and guard His sheep. There is often others in the church that seem to make it their job to look out for the other sheep in the flock, as to their material things and general good health. You may find some of this in a general club, or association, but not with the heart felt drive which will be experienced by being a member in the Lord’s true Church. Many a tear has been shed in prayer through the years for me, in the church and for my wife and family. I believe it is this prayer through the providence of God that sustained me, my family and through many rough waters through the years.

It is also found in the Churches responsibilities. This may seem like a strange notion or thought because we all have responsibilities, where ever we live or what ever we do. Never the less, I mention this because there are responsibilities, which each Christian has in this life, aside from regular daily responsibilities, which we owe unto our jobs, families, friends, etc. We have responsibility to gather ourselves together to worship God. And I would quickly ask how are we to do this if there is no local New Testament church for us to attend, and be added unto as faithful Christians? Now I know there are some, who would differ from this thinking, because through the years I have heard some say unto me that it is not necessary for them to attend a church in order to serve the Lord. Now I would not argue that fact that you can serve the Lord other places then the church, such as on your job, in your home, school, or for that matter even while grocery shopping. In fact we are commanded that in all that we do, do for the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet there is a designated place of gathering, in which the Lord is to receive glory. And the Bible tells us that this place is His Church for which He (Christ) has shed His blood.

So I do not deny that one can serve the Lord outside of the church, in fact it is demanded that we do. Yet one cannot serve the Lord to the fullest and it should be our desire to serve Him (Christ) to the fullest in all that we do. Without a church we are sheep without a flock to which we may have fellowship with other like sheep. We are sheep without the comfort of like companionship for our labors, and we are without the comfort and protection of the under Shepherd (pastors) to which Christ has given us for protection and instruction and comfort.

(2). Family. Another consideration one should consider when choosing a place to live, would be family. Now I will not try to convince anyone that they must live by family or they cannot be happy. For I have met many a person who are seemingly miserable because of their family. Yet I consider this to be important when considering your place to live. Family defined as dads, mothers, brothers and sisters, etc. and I might again quickly call your attention to the words of Christ.  “But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? 49And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 50For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (Matthew 12:48-50). But he answered and said unto him that told him, who is my mother? And who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father, which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. Now I would never say that there are not blessings that are not to be enjoyed from your earthly family. I myself having come from a rather large family have through the years had many an occasion to rejoice in times which we the family have had. We have gathered for family reunions, anniversary, dinners and thanksgiving meals to which I can say, have for the most part been very nice times to remember. And I hope that you all may have had many occasions to also recall yourself of your own earthly families, which you may remember and say you were glad to be there. Yet your earthly families may not always be your eternal family. And the Lord here is referring to our eternal family. Many children may come forth from the same womb, yet there is no guarantee that they shall be joined as family throughout the ages to come, less all are saved by the grace of God, or all die in their sins not knowing Christ. When considering family we should consider our eternal family and join ourselves ever so close to them in this life. How might we do this if we remove ourselves from brothers and sisters of like faith and practice? It would be walking out on your family literally to up and move away from your eternal family, without consideration of them or others like them to which your are to be joined to. I had always thought that there was nothing thicker than blood when it came to matters of this life and family. And there is certainly closeness to our siblings that cannot be surpassed by others, speaking in an earthly manner. Yet I have found that my eternal family is even closer than some of my earthly family as the years have gone by. And I realize that my original thinking was in fact true nothing thicker than blood when it comes to family, yet not just any blood but the blood of Christ Jesus my Lord. It is to His family that I am by the grace of God joined eternally, and to them my brothers and sisters in Christ that I am truly a kin to. Although I am still greatly thankful of my siblings who I have, and for the most part am able to live peacefully with all of them, yet I find that in many matters especially concerning the Lord I cannot walk with them. You may know and experience this yourself, a earthly family member which you love, yet when it comes to matters of the one you love the most (Jesus Christ) there can be no joint fellowship there. And this severs the closeness, which you may otherwise have. Since I believe it to be a great sin to place importance upon earthly things over that which is heavenly. I would consider it to be a sin likewise to walk closer to and earthly sibling, which do not know the Lord Jesus Christ, than to a eternal family member which shares with you the joint heir ship of Christ. One might find themselves in the state as Brother Lot, if not careful considering the place of our dwelling here on earth. I believe with all of my heart that there is no closer walk than to walk with Christ. And to those which He is also walking with. In doing this you will as one has said find yourself in good company. I believe also that in walking with your eternal family this causes one to be more Christ minded. In this life, which can not always be said concerning your earthly family? So it is of great importance that we consider this right near the top of the list concerning relocating.

 (3). Income. Income is surely a great factor as to where we shall live in this country. Yet, one must be careful as to priorities and not run off with eyes fixed upon only dollar signs, and numbers. To make a good living is a wonderful blessing, to be compensated well for. Our labors are a good feeling and quite rewarding in this life, yet I believe one should be careful as to not fix there eye’s upon just dollars and ignore other things which have a fore been mentioned. I might ask also what is my desire concerning comfortable living? Or to what extent am I willing go to that I might have a good and comfortable earned wage? Most of us have a little nest egg so to speak laid aside although mine has many times been broken into by myself and found quite empty at times. A better question might be where do your treasures lay? Or what are your treasures? To many times I believe that in my lifetime I have put up treasures in places where they just don't last. “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21). You know, if I would have paid closer attention through the years to this passage of scripture I believe I would be better off now for sure. To many days were spent in laying up treasures where they just seem to disappear. I believe I have forfeited a great pile of precious treasure which I cannot go back and attain, yet I will focus a little more on the heavenly starting today we may be assured that it will be there waiting on us upon our arrival there at heaven’s shore. I mention this because I know that many make the mistake of putting worldly financial prosperity first when considering a place to live. Don't get me wrong I am not ignorant concerning matters of economics and I realize that to own a car you must earn enough money to pay for it and to keep in good shape, the same with a house, or any earthly possession. And I believe it is our duty to provide for our families the best that we can afford to do. Yet when considering relocating to a new area and only doing this based upon income only, and ignoring the a fore mentioned I believe would be grievous err on our part. Now I know there are some parts of the country that a better standard of living than others. And there are better paying jobs in some locations than others depending upon what you do for a living, yet you need to be careful that this is not primary or only consideration when moving there. I believe that to move to new to new location and triple your income without a good place to attend church and ability to fellowship with your eternal family would be a huge deficit on your part, and I believe you would soon find yourself in despair. I might ask this question. What price would one put on a good marriage? Or how much is your families’ well being worth to you? Money itself can solve but a very few problems and often times will generate more problems than it can fix. Many times we as Christians may find ourselves if we are not careful slaves to the dollar bill. Working more than we might want to in order to pay for the treasures that we have carelessly stock piled in this life in earthly things. I have found myself here in this state and grieved over my mistakes greatly, wishing only that I might go back in time a ways and focus on things which would have been more profitable now or most importantly in the future.

(4). Our Christian Duty. And in closing! A lot can be said as to a proper place to live. But let us consider one more thing. Our Christian duty, of witnessing to the world. I have often thought that a great place to live would be up the mountains far back in the hills, and of course living in a beautiful although moderate log cabin home. The thought of this has often entered my mind, and with much joy I have dreamed of its furnishings and the surrounding landscapes, a beautiful trout stream close by and a good woods to hunt in. But then I must consider this? Where and who would I witness to concerning Jesus Christ? Where would the people be to which I owe a testimony of Jesus? To totally remove ourselves from the labor field of the ministry would be a grievous err on our part. Although I enjoy some solitude from time to time, to move ourselves to a place where it makes it very difficult to witness to people, because of lack of people would be an injustice to our calling and purpose here on earth. The Lord says that the fields are white unto harvest, and proclaims that few are the laborers, how embarrassing it would be if my only true reply unto Him (Christ) would have to be that I couldn't see the fields do to my location in the hills Lord. And there I had solitude, much study, much prayer and a good deal of meditation. But there was no one there to share your message of grace with Lord. That would not be a testimony I would want to share with him, concerning the stewardship of my talents that He has placed in me. Would you? To sum things up, I believe that a good place to live is in close proximity to the Lord’s true blood bought church, I believe this to be a Sovereign Grace New Testament Baptist Church. For I believe that throughout this great land, there are many who call themselves churches, and many that call themselves servants, yet apart from the services of the Lord’s true blood bought church, there is much wood, hay, and stubble. Many will look upon Her (the church) with discuss, and even embarrassment as to her size, accommodations and building structure. As often times the Lord’s church buildings are modest and plain in appearance as (Christ) was when the world and religious leaders thereof looked upon His vesture. Yet they knew not the Power and authority contained within Him. And I am sure the power and authority to which He (Christ) gave unto His church, is not seen by worldly eye’s and religious leaders of today either. Yet this does now detract in one degree the awesomeness and great privilege of the grace of God, to which we have been blessed, not only now but also in the ages to come, for His faithful Church servants now shall be His Blemishless Bride in ages to come. A FEW THINGS TO CONSIDER.