God's Perfect Place for You

As we grow older we are confronted with many important decisions. It generally starts with our college choice, then our career choice, then our spouse choice, then our church choice, and then many other choices come as the years go by. Of course, the most important choice we could ever make is to accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. In fact that is the foundation upon which every other choice should be made. But I want to talk today about choices regarding location.

As children we generally have no say in where we live, what we do, or where we go to church, but then as we reach adulthood that changes. After we get settled into a career we may feel we have less control again, but still the ultimate decision remains with us. I want to show you that God will show you the right places to live and to worship. The importance of these decisions can't be overstated. If you go where God wants you to go, then everything else God has for your life can appear. But if you don't then you could miss out big time.

Let's first look at Abraham. He lived in the land and household of his father until he was 75. Then God told him to leave both and go unto a land that God would show him. (Gen 12:1-4) God had a perfect place for Abraham to go, and Abraham obeyed. If Abraham hadn't obeyed this first command to go where God wanted him to, undoubtedly he would have missed seeing all the other works of God in his life.

Have you received such a command? Has God told you to leave the land of your father and go to a new place? This wouldn't be uncommon. In fact, with people in the ministry it's practically Scriptural - Jesus said that a prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house (Mat 13:57). So don't be surprised if God tells you to move. I'm still in my father's house and land, at 28, but the day may come when God has other plans for me. As for today I know that I know that I know that this is where God wants me. God can tell me to move whenever He likes.

Now sometimes you may not like your current place, or you may want to go somewhere else, but your prosperity (financial and otherwise) will be tied to being where God wants you. I've heard people say that they could be placed anywhere on earth, operate Biblical principles, and prosper. But that's only true if that place on earth is where God told them to go. Let's look at Isaac and God's specific instructions concerning his location: “And there was a famine in the land . . . And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee.” (Gen 26:1-3)

For Isaac his blessing was tied to being in God's appointed place. Now Isaac wasn't crazy in wanting to go to Egypt, Abraham did that when a famine hit during his life (Gen 12:10). But God had a specific plan for Isaac. The days of running from problems were over. If you are where God wants you to be, you don't need to fear famine or flood or disease or any other calamity, for God will be with you and bless you.

Now in those days there were no churches, and then in the days of Moses there was only one tabernacle. In Israel there was one main temple. But now, at least in the USA, we have thousands of churches. How do we choose? Does the same rationale apply to a spiritual location as a physical location? I believe so. Let's look at what God said to Elijah.

“Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward,—and hide thyself in the ravine of Cherith, which faceth the Jordan; and it shall be that, of the torrent, shalt thou drink,—and, the ravens, have I commanded to sustain thee, there . . . And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land. And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. (1Ki 17:3-9 Rotherham/KJV)

God tells Elijah to go to two places. After the provision at one ran out, God told Elijah to go to another. God didn't just say, "go to this place." God said, "Go to this place and I will sustain you." God provided not only a physical place for Elijah, but also physical sustenance. I believe God will provide for your spiritual sustenance as well.

Didn't Jesus say, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by the Word of God?” Therefore, we need the Word of God to live. I didn't say this, Jesus did. I know I need it. I believe Jesus didn't mean simply living physically, but by "live" He also means how we will live our lives. We don't just need food and water to continue living appropriately, we also need God's Word. If God is so interested in where Elijah got his physical sustenance, don't you think God is interested in your spiritual sustenance, which is of far more importance? In my mind it's doubtless.

Finally let's look at a powerful passage, James 4:13-15 - "Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow . . . For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that."

You should never try to plan your life without God. You should always include Him in every decision, especially those concerning your place of living and worship. God has the perfect place for you. If you ask Him He will show you. You don't need to guess or do your best to choose. God will show you a specific place, just like He showed Elijah specific places. Remember that if you acknowledge and consult with God concerning all your ways, He will direct your paths. (Prov 3:6)