Where are you living these days?

 I was struck by a friend's question. We'd lost touch a little and last time we spoke was before our house move. They asked, "why on earth would you leave the South Coast (which to them is paradise) to go to West Midlands ?" (which in their minds is a smog filled city complex of factories, where people speak an incomprehensible dialect far too unlike radio 4 or the royal family to accomplish any good). I'm very conscious that our girls have been through 6 major house moves when their friends have stayed in one place. In a society  which somewhat idolises stability and it's connection with good mental health, I'm stuck by how many people (who live in spiritual chaos) have suggested that we should never even consider leaving a place where we feel happy or at peace to go to a place where people are in greater need or things are in a desperate state of dysfunction. For the record... the people of West Mids are the friendliest, most generous hearted neighbours we've ever had and are rich in community. Of main consideration though are greater issues and the bigger perspective - the global calling on our lives, and the voice of the ultimate frontier missionary who we follow. He would teach us a different perspective to many around us. He left the comfort and glory of heaven, and through this we have everything that matters. 

We can evaluate where we live by many criteria; (friendships, work opportunity, peacefulness/ security, asset building, seclusion from poverty and crime, community dynamics, mono or multicultural). For us the simple conviction is deep... that anywhere God is leading us to is a good place to be. 

Anywhere we live on earth is a temporary sojourn (1 Peter 2) before our permanent residence. Anywhere we are given to live now, and any length of days our life is extended now is to be used to honour Him, with our home (borrowed, rented or purchased), with our time, with our energies and health. Although it was a jokey well meaning, really lovely/ pleasant conversation... I'm not sure the friend really "got" why we moved. Their evaluations were based on very different things to ours (how many days sun we had, how near the beach we were, how relaxing our life was (as if these were the only significant priorities and comfort was the only goal worth serving)). Surely our daily question should be... LORD where would you want me to be of best use to you just now ?

Where should we be living ?

Living consciously in the grip of God's grace and good plans means some basic foundations for evaluating where we are. Perspective in our lives is so critical to us using them well. The hour glass has turned on our lives and the sands of time are dropping. Some of us attempt to block out this reality hoping that increasing comfort will slow things down, but however we attempt this and whatever we use for escapism (perfect renovations, listening to stunning music for hours on end, collecting shells on the beach, posting millions of photos of our pets on facebook, sitting on the lounger, binge-watching, exercise/ posting the biggest route on STRAVA), the reality is unchangeable... this life is short. 

1) We are here to give praise, honour and thanks to God, regardless of where He has physically put us and how long we are here for. 

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice !!! (Phil 4:4)

Note that Philippians was written in the context of prison and confinement. Many friends attest today that Christ is with them in a special way as they suffer. Relationships are important, but God is able to give us immeasurable joy even fruitful isolation. If He is with us we have much to thank Him for, and everything to live for.

2) Environmental beauty is only a mere reflection of THE ONE (of incomparable beauty) it comes from. We are preparing to be with Him in his immediate presence forever, He is our God and we are His people. This is THE beautiful environment we crave... He is the one of true satisfaction beauty, and we can have more of Him and His intimate presence now. By His grace He dwells with us, lives in us and is more ready to give us more of Himself than we are to receive. Add to this the reality that this temporary world is environmentally nothing compared to what is to come. The old NKJ translation of 1 Cor 2:9-11 is helpfully so clear.

 "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him".

The greatest footage we've seen or viewed of nature in an ULTRA HD David Attenborough documentary (for me even eyeballing first hand such things as penguins in South Africa or the vast beauty of the Himalayas), is nothing compared to what it will be to witness the new heavens and new earth with sinless eyes and clean heart to comprehend the glory of God. We have always lived with the knowledge of sin, and always lived in a broken world groaning with increasing imperfection. You ain't seen nothing yet... even though God's glory is incomprehensibly dumbfounding you and I even through the fallen world and glimpse of His love we do now see.

 3) The reason we remain on earth is not to trample on grace with selfish living for comfort, but to give us opportunity to declare His glory whilst the day of opportunity is still here. Our freedom is not a license for flesh satisfaction, but to live in the liberty of The Spirit to serve. Eternity is coming soon, life is short, eternal destiny is too critical a thing for our neighbours and family to be wrong about. Our primary goal each day therefore should not be driven by desires for comfort, but desires for Christ and confession of Christ. God has given us so many good things... but these are given to serve His purposes not master us and captivate our hearts. Lord help us use what you have given us by your grace for your Glory. 

Lord help us to make the most of our allotted days, fill our gaze with you and your good purposes, our satisfaction with your daily presence, and our ambitions with your glorious gospel. Help me to live in this place by your grace and power, walk with you into the inheritance you have purchased for us.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2    He makes me lie down in green pastures.
 He leads me beside still waters.[a]
3   He restores my soul.
 He leads me in paths of righteousness[b]
    for his name's sake.