The phrase Location, Location, Location is not unusual to a property expert. It refers to the three most important factors in determining the desirability of a property. Location, Location, Location is often referred to as the real estate agent’s mantra. It is based on the belief that houses can increase or decrease in value due to nothing other than their location. Therefore, saying location 3 times is way of emphasizing this understanding and should not be overlooked. It suffices to say that some research is done to ensure that the location is right for the house of choice. While this is true for property experts, what is true to a Kingdom citizen?
The book of Genesis tells us of how intentional the Father was in placing man after creation. He not only chose the conditions for the habitat, he chose the location as well. We are told in Genesis 2:8 (NIV) that “Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed”. He was intentional, He was purposeful, He was very involved and He blessed them. Under the Abrahamic covenant, we are guaranteed land as one of the blessings and as we all know, in this day and age, one thing that is commonly done on land is to build a house or houses. As we continue this series on the model home, we want to take our understanding of this subject matter a step further to examine some biblical principles that guide our move from one house to the other, or from one location to the other.
The word of God is filled with many people who made decisions to relocate and as we know, relocation is accompanied by a change of house. Instead of relying on real estate agents, whose primary focus is to help you to choose a location that may possibly add value to a house, children of God should have a different approach. Because as it is we understand that the blessing of land ownership is part our Abrahamic covenant. The question we seek to answer is this, “what guides your move from one house to the other; or from one city or county to the other?” Is it the monetary value of the house? Or is it the fame that comes with living in a particular neighborhood? Or, is it the school system? Or, is it your job? There are so many questions we can ask about what guides your decisions in this aspect of life. What guides you is just as important as who guides you because your decision will eventually exalt a person or a thing.
Scriptures let us know of people like Terar, Abraham, Lot, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Elimelech, Naomi who made a decision to relocate from one city to the other. That was the case with the children of Israel as they relocated to Canaan. And through scripture, it is evident who guided their decision or lack thereof based on the outcome. Others like Joseph, Ezra, Daniel, etc. had to deal with relocating against their will. As the story of Joseph goes, he was sold by his brothers to Midianite traders and he eventually found himself in Egypt. Such situations are understandable and the divine providence of the Father is activated on their behalf.
Our goal in today’s teaching is to highlight the significance of depending on the Father and the leadership of the Spirit of God as concerns where we choose to live.
As much as the spiritual atmosphere of your home is of great value, so too is the location of your house equally spiritual. You may ask why. The answer is simple. As Kingdom citizens, we live, we move, and have our being in Him (Acts 17:28) therefore, the decisions we make in every aspect of our lives must be guided by Him. The word of God tells us that he delights in every detail of our lives.
Psalms 37:23 (NLT)
The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.
Emphasis Mine
If we do not forsake His council and wisdom when it comes to our relocation, then we can be guaranteed a successful outcome amidst the storms that may come. How then can we secure our success in Him when it comes to relocation? We can do so by receiving a word from Him which comes as a result of inquiring from Him even before we move.
Unlike the world’s standards, your move as a child of God should never be solely dependent on environmental factors, fame, politics, job and any other carnal factor. Rather, it should be dependent on Him and a word you receive from Him prior to your move. There are no shortages of the damages that a wrong move might cost you or a move without receiving a word from Him. Case in point.
Terar
Genesis 11:32-33 (NIV)
Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Harran, they settled there. Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Harran.
Terar was the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. The bible does not tell us so much about Terar. One thing we do know is that a time came when he decided to move to Canaan from Ur of the Chaldeans. He made this decision for himself and on behalf of his immediate family and extended family. So, they set out for Canaan, and when they came to Haran, we are told they settled there and Terar died there. This may seem like an ordinary journey for a family however, I will like for us to see that nowhere in scripture are we told that he received a word from God the Father before deciding to relocate. In addition, he did not even arrive his destination, Canaan. Something we must state here is that the city Haran means “parched” in Hebrew. Meaning he settled in a dry place together with his family.
Elimelech
Ruth 1:1-3 (NIV)
In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there. Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons.
Elimelech is another scriptural example who moved from his hometown without receiving a word from God the Father. Unlike Terar, the reason for Elimeleck’s move was because of a famine in Bethlehem. As usual, it may seem like an ordinary move until I bring to your attention that Elimelek made a costly decision to settle in a land where idol worship was the order of the day just because of the lack of food in his hometown. Not only did Elimelek die in Moab leaving his wife, his sons also died leaving their wives.
Our time together today will not permit me to get into the details of the story of Lot, whom for greed chose the land of Sodom which was eventually destroyed. Lot’s choice to dwell in the plain of the Jordan toward Zoar and pitching his tents near Sodom was not directed by a received word from God the Father but by the promises the land seem to offer even from a distance. We can go on and on to expound on the many examples of people who chose to relocate without receiving a word from the Lord and their decision turned out to be very costly.
However, family, the point is this, relocating can be a very exciting idea especially if your new location seems promising. Always remember that the promises of your new location can only be guaranteed as the word you received from Him before you move.
Location, location, location. Though a very catchy phrase and mantra for real estate agents, it still does not deliver a complete package of successful living as a kingdom citizen. The increase or decrease in value of your house will not matter as much if no one lives to benefit from it.
Family, it’s about advancing the Kingdom of God even in our choice of relocation. Remember, it’s all about relationships. Involving the Spirit of God in every decision we make. Preserve the destiny of the people the Father has entrusted into your care. Right decisions equal right choices. Right choices equal right outcomes. Nation builders, kingdom giants, generational pacesetters, role models, and pioneers will be the outcome from your generation. Remember, the model home is not a perfect home; it is an excellent home!
