Journeyman

In Hebrews 11:13, it is said that the patriarchs of faith lived as aliens and strangers on earth. Their true home was in heaven and their abodes on earth were considered temporary. With no place on earth worthy to be called a permanent home, they were on the move quite often. Looking back on my own life, I can count at least 21 moves I have made; that is almost a move every two years. The longest I stayed in one place was for thirteen years and the shortest was for less than a year. According to the US Census Bureau, Americans move to a new home every 5 years on average (http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview/id/85673.html) or about 16 times over their lifetime. It is not surprising that as an immigrant, I have been moving more than the average.

Despite the frequent moves, I think one of the most difficult decisions of life has to do with whether one should stay in the same place or move to another. How should the decision be made?

The simple answer to that is that one should take the lead from the Lord. As the Israelites journeyed in the wilderness for 40 years, they were led by a pillar of cloud and fire of the Lord (Exodus 13:21-22). "In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. So the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels." (Exodus 40:36-38).

The pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire -- the guiding presence of the Lord -- determined two things. First, the pillar determined the time to move and the time to stay put. In the Bible, a recurring theme is that of the appointed time. At the appointed time, God's promise of a son for Sarah was fulfilled (Genesis 18:14). At the appointed time, the Israelites were to appear before the Lord to celebrate the Feasts (Exodus 23:15, 34:18, Leviticus 23, Numbers 9). God chooses the appointed time (Psalm 75:2) and directs man's history according to His appointed times (Daniel 8:19, 11:27, 29, 35). Jesus' redemptive ministry was according to the appointed time (Matthew 26:18) and His judgment will occur at the appointed time as well (I Corinthians 4:5). God is in charge of history and of my life's timeline. The best course is to follow His timeline. Second, the pillar determined the direction of move, serving as a guide to the Israelites. The Lord guides us in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake (Psalm 23:3). As He guides us, He will turn the darkness into light before us and make rough places smooth (Isaiah 42:16). Even if we should be in a sun-scorched land, He will satisfy our needs and we "will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." (Isaiah 58:11). Now the Holy Spirit guides us into all truth (John 16:13). This God is our guide for ever and ever, until the end (Psalm 48:14).

In deciding whether to move or to stay, the decision becomes easy if we leave it to the Lord and follow His lead. The decision should not hinge on worldly concerns like wealth, fame, and pride. Rather the discernment is about whether it is the right time according to the Lord's timetable and whether it is in the direction that the Lord is taking us.

Lord God, You are my Shepherd and my Guide. You lead me to green pastures and still waters -- bread and drink for my spirit. I will follow You, wherever You lead me. In Jesus' name. Amen.