WHERE DO YOU LIVE?

The question "where do you live?" is one of the most common questions we ask when getting to know someone for the first time. To those of us who answer "in Broadstone" we sometimes find that we need to qualify our answer by adding "near Poole" or "near Bournemouth" in order for the enquirer to grasp where we live. Generally we meet with a favourable reaction!

Where we live tells others a lot about ourselves. This was the first question that the first disciples asked Jesus.

They said to Him, "Teacher, where are You staying?" He said to them, "Come and see ". They came and saw where he was staying and remained with Him that day.

(John 1:38 & 39)

Jesus did not simply tell them where He was living; He invited them to experience something more. Whatever they found there that day - they decided to stay with Him.

When the Bible speaks of "where we live", it is not just speaking of a locality like Broadstone, but, to use the modern expression "where we are coming from". In other words, where we really live is much more to do with what is going on inside us, our motivations, our attitudes and reactions - rather than in which town we live. Why we are like we are inside is a question which many people ask at some time in their lives and find no satisfactory answer.

Surprisingly, the Bible reveals that the answer is straightforward - there are only two sorts of people, those who live "in Adam" and those who live "in Christ". Adam refers to the first person God created, from whom we are all descended, but who allowed sin to enter the human race through disobedience to God. We see the results of sin in the world around us, and if we are honest, we know that we too are "part of the problem". The good news, however, is that Christ overcame sin when He died on the Cross for us and He made it possible for us to inherit a new life (what He called eternal life) -not only here and now, but also beyond the grave - a new life originating from Him!

As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

(1st Corinthians 15:22)

So, wherever we live, the real issue is whether or not we are "in Christ" and it all begins when we, like those first disciples, accept the invitation of Jesus to "Come and see..."

David Snow Tel: 01202 696001

Broadstone Christian Fellowship is a group of committed Christians who gather simply to worship the Lord Jesus Christ. A sincere invitation is extended to all who wish to learn about Him. For more details, see the Directory.

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