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Writer's pictureRebekka Wallner

Country Living

Updated: Mar 3, 2021

The time has come when, as God opens the way, families should move out of the cities.” AH 139.4


Before the overflowing scourge shall come upon the dwellers of the earth, the Lord calls upon all who are Israelites indeed to prepare for that event. To parents He sends the warning cry: Gather your children into your own houses; gather them away from those who are disregarding the commandments of God, who are teaching and practicing evil. Get out of the large cities as fast as possible.” AH 139.5


Let everyone take time to consider carefully; and not be like the man in the parable who began to build, and was not able to finish. Not a move should be made but that movement and all that it portends are carefully considered—everything weighed.... To every man was given his work according to his several ability. Then let him not move hesitatingly, but firmly, and yet humbly trusting in God.” CL 26.1


There may be individuals who will make a rush to do something, and enter into some business they know nothing about. This God does not require. Think candidly, prayerfully, studying the Word with all carefulness and prayerfulness, with mind and heart awake to hear the voice of God.... To understand the will of God is a great thing.” CL 26.2


God will help His people to find such homes outside of the cities” MM 367


Country Living – Why?

1. God’s original home – God created everything and He saw and it was good. In the first days of this earth’s history, God placed Adam and Eve in the garden, to tend it and to keep it. The garden was there for the perfect development of human beings physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

2. The 3-angels message – The people of the endtime will speak with a loud voice, by their living examples they will show what it means to “Come out of her” (Rev 14).

3. Temptations – Our cities are filled with amusements on every corner. Useful labor for children is missing, idleness takes over for youth as well as adults. “It is the idle mind that is Satan’s workshop” Ed 189.5

4. Avoid God’s judgment – “The time is near when the large cities will be visited by the judgment of God.” CL 7.2 Crises hit cities much stronger, when cut off from electricity, internet, water and food, how will we be able to live in the cities? Crimes, corruption, violence is increasing especially in the large cities.

5. Listen to the silence – The busy life of the cities hinders us from being attentive to details as well as from hearing our own thoughts.

6. Listen to God – When silence around us, that’s when we can distinguish easier His voice from our own thoughts and the ideas of people around us. This will help us to understand better what is His will and His way. Moses went on the mountain alone to communicate with God.

7. God’s great school – “…and he (John the Baptist) chose the wilderness as his school, in which his mind could be properly educated and disciplined from God’s great book of nature.” 2SP 47.1

8. Grow your own food – Having your own land means you are able to grow your own vegetables and helps to be more independent of humans as well as more dependent on God. Growing food can also be a source of income when selling it and a good way of reaching out to the community not just by selling food but by making friends, giving health counsel and showing God's character.

9. Practical Preparations for crises ahead – God expects us to know and to labor with our own hands, to learn to be handy. Joseph prepared in 7 years of fatness and this saved not just him and his family but the whole country.

10. Carry out the truth – Country living should not be entered upon out of selfish reasons. “Serious times are before us, and there is great need for families to get out of the cities into the country, that the truth may be carried into the byways as well as the highways of the earth.” CL 17.5

Steps for Country Living

1. Come close to God – Fast and pray, ask God to reveal His will and claim His promises of guidance. ” I will instruct you and teach you in the way your should go, I will guide you with My eyes.” Ps 32,8 Look into His eyes and you will understand the way He wants you to go.

2. Study – Study biblical stories about country living and in what way God wants it for us. Study the Spirit of prophecy (books like Adventist Home or Country Living by Ellen White).

3. Look for open doors – ”We need to follow more closely God’s plan of life. To do our best in the work that lies nearest, to commit our ways to God, and to watch for the indications of His providence – these are rules that ensure safe guidance in the choice of an occupation.” ED 267.3

4. Money – Don’t get discouraged if you don’t have enough to buy a property yet. God can give money in miraculous ways but you need to do your part in saving up what you have. For inspiration look at here.

5. Look for properties – Continue seeking God’s will about which country, which place. Have a list of what to look for in a potential place.

6. Become a minimalist – Think about the essentials which you actually need and slowly get rid of a few things you are able to live without. It will make the move easier.

7. Prepare friends/family for your move – Make your testimony attractive to them, even if they don’t agree with you, they might understand the reasons behind and one day even follow your example. Let the Holy Spirit do the work on their hearts.

8. First the land - ”Prepare your outside work, make it fit for yourself in the fields; and afterward build your house.” Prov 24,27. Starting the garden is done quicker and can help in providing for food while working on a house.

9. Step by step – If you have lived for a long time in the middle of a city, it might be good to give yourself time to adjust to country living and to move first into a smaller village with a garden as a start before getting into an even more rural area.

10. Never forget the purpose why country living – This will help not to loose the vision. Always seek to come closer to God and to understand His will.


Caution! 7 traps in moving to the country

1. Don’t take the city with you! – You might move out of the city but has the city life moved out of you? Whatever keeps you away from God, surrender it (technology devices, castle buildings in your mind, pride,…)

2. Don’t think you can hide from the enemies! – God never promised an easy life, but He promised to stay with us until the end of days.

3. The Abraham-Move: Not everybody is called to just leave the city without knowing where to go. Make sure this is God’s will when you sell without having a future place to go to yet. Use the reasoning power God gave to you.

4. The Israelite-Move: The Canaanites seemed too strong, impossible to conquer. Challenges are always there but if God convicts you, He will move with you. Opportunities of today might never come back, like it was for that generation of Israelite who died in the wilderness because of their distrust.

5. Don’t forget your neighbors! Jesus will return when the gospel is preached to the whole world, not when we finally have moved to the countryside. From the mountain to the multitude and back to the mountain – this was the concept of Enoch, Noah, Jesus…. To take as many as possible with us to heaven should be our highest purpose to live for.

6. Build a pilgrims-house! Don’t forget we are pilgrims here, start small and try not to take up great loans, otherwise everything might be taken from you over night.

7. Not everybody is called to be a farmer! However, every family is called to have sufficient ground to grow their own food. “In God's plan for Israel every family had a home on the land, with sufficient ground for tilling. Thus were provided both the means and the incentive for a useful, industrious, and self-supporting life. And no devising of men has ever improved upon that plan." MH 183.3

What to look for in a Property?

1. Sun – If it faces the south there is less heating needed in the house and the food grows better. Check how sunny it is…

2. Water – Check out how much it rains in that area. If possible, have your own well on the property which will ensure you enough water for the garden and house.

3. Climate – Check the temperature in summer and winter. This will determinate what you are able to grow. Is it a risky area for natural catastrophes (floods, storms, landslides,…)?

4. Soil – A rich sandy loam is the best soil you can get. If you don't have it, you can amend it over the years.

Check with an iron bar or a spate if there are a lot of rocks beneath the surface.

5. Property – How big should it be? Is there space for a greenhouse? Are there already some fruit trees? Are trees growing well? (Check at the neighbors places as well)

6. Attitude – The higher the attitude, the less grows. Do you have to level the land? This might cost quite some. If it is steep, it’s more difficult.

7. Pests – Depending on the wild animals you might have to build a fence or use some other natural pest prevention.

8. Buildings – Do you want to build yourself or buy with buildings included? Is it legal to build something on your land? It might take some years to receive a permission to build. Is the area swampy? If a house is already there – how is the insulation? How is it heated? If with fire wood, is there enough forest on the property?

9. Accessibility – It should be far enough from the city but not too far. How close is it to the next church? Should we have a solar panel for electricity? How do we sell our own products? Who cleans the road in winter when there is snow?

10. School – Is there a church school close by for your children? Is homeschooling allowed in this country?

“Those who decide to do nothing in any line that will displease God, will know, after presenting their case before Him, just what course to pursue.” DA 668.4

 

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