The Hidden Dangers of Country Life

I am writing this article from my country house in the beautiful countryside of Germany. Everywhere I look, an idyllic view delights my eyes.

Birds sing with a joy that is contagious and an “orchestra” of crickets provides a wonderful accompaniment. Every now and then the rustle of the wind can be heard, the sun shines beautifully and there is a quietness that urges you to keep God in your thoughts even when the hands are busy with other things.

This quietness, joy and peace seem to contrast with the agitated state of our world…

We live in solemn times and I believe that country living is very important in a special way now that we see how the prophecies are being fulfilled before our eyes. I do believe with all my heart that, very soon, this generation will see Jesus coming in the clouds of heaven.

The world is changing rapidly…There are so many current events happening, I will just list a few: We are seeing how the artificial intelligence is reaching heights that some time ago seemed unattainable, the 2025 project which intends to reform the United States of America, the Agenda 2030 which aims to restructure the world, there is talk of a digital currency being introduced soon, the first American Pope in history and, his name, Pope Leo XIV, reminds us of Pope Leo XIII, who was pope in 1888 (when the Sunday law project was being discussed in the USA), famous also for his encyclical Rerum Novarum…

The puzzle pieces are being placed and it is becoming clearer and clearer that the image of the beast is forming before our eyes…

“We are living in the time of the end. The fast-fulfilling signs of the times declare that the coming of Christ is near at hand. The days in which we live are solemn and important. The Spirit of God is gradually but surely being withdrawn from the earth. Plagues and judgments are already falling upon the despisers of the grace of God. The calamities by land and sea, the unsettled state of society, the alarms of war, are portentous. They forecast approaching events of the greatest magnitude. The agencies of evil are combining their forces and consolidating. They are strengthening for the last great crisis. Great changes are soon to take place in our world, and the final movements will be rapid ones.” (EGW, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, p. 11.1-3).

My prayer is for God's children who are still in the cities to wrestle with God and manage to get out in time because

“The time is fast coming when the controlling power of the labor unions will be very oppressive. Again and again the Lord has instructed that our people are to take their families away from the cities, into the country, where they can raise their own provisions; for in the future the problem of buying and selling will be a very serious one. We should now begin to heed the instruction given us over and over again: Get out of the cities into rural districts, where the houses are not crowded closely together, and where you will be free from the interference of enemies.— Letter 5, 1904”. (EGW, Country living, p. 9.5).

We all know that a life in the country brings with it many blessings for spiritual growth, character development, health, family, education, healthy food from the own garden and the list goes on, but are we aware of the hidden dangers of country living SO THAT WE CAN AVOID THEM?

In this article I would like to briefly address a topic that is rarely discussed, namely the hidden dangers of country living because many people are caught in these traps without even realizing it.

Country living - salvation by default?

We must not forget that country life is only a tool in God's toolbox for shaping character. It is also a tool in God's hand for our practical preparation for the crisis that lies before us.

Cain lived in the country, was a professional gardener, who really loved his occupation but was lost…This is a very profound topic to think about... He was in the perfect location and yet he lost his salvation.

Therefore, when we work in the garden, let us remember that the "garden" of the heart is the most important and the greatest need is to cooperate with God in the work of character formation, so that the fruits of the Holy Spirit will be visible in our lives.

Not God, but country living as the source of safety/security

Many who already live in the country view their property as a saviour. They believe that they are ready for any crisis because they are already in the perfect location, have certain resources and therefore everything will be fine. You can see such a similar confidence as Peter had, to whom Jesus said <<Peter, you are not ready for the crisis. You will betray Me.>> But Peter said, <<Lord, you do not know me. I am sure that I am ready for any kind of crisis.>> (see Luke 22:33-34).

Peter put his trust in himself, some put their trust in their properties, others in their bank account, etc…

“Everything in the world is in agitation. The signs of the times are ominous. Coming events cast their shadows before. The Spirit of God is withdrawing from the earth, and calamity follows calamity by sea and by land. There are tempests, earthquakes, fires, floods, murders of every grade. Who can read the future? Where is security? There is assurance in nothing that is human or earthly. Rapidly are men ranging themselves under the banner they have chosen. Restlessly are they waiting and watching the movements of their leaders. There are those who are waiting and watching and working for our Lord's appearing. Another class are falling into line under the generalship of the first great apostate. Few believe with heart and soul that we have a hell to shun and a heaven to win.” (EGW, Desire of Ages, p. 636.1, my emphasis added).

We do not know much about the time of crisis ahead of us because, as the Bible says, something like this has never happened before and will never happen again. Ellen White says that the coming crisis is beyond our imagination:

“The <time of trouble, such as never was> is soon to open upon us; and we shall need an experience which we do not now possess and which many are too indolent to obtain. It is often the case that trouble is greater in anticipation than in reality; but this is not true of the crisis before us. The most vivid presentation cannot reach the magnitude of the ordeal. In that time of trial, every soul must stand for himself before God. <Though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in the land, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.>” (EGW, The Great Controversy, p. 622.4).

The final crisis will increase in intensity and if at the beginning of the crisis property in the country will be of real use, there will come a time when the property itself will be taken or will have to be abandoned. While we must do our part in the practical preparation (moving out of the cities, growing our own food etc.), we must not put our trust in what we do or what we have, but in Jesus.

Another danger is intemperance in work.

There is so much to do... Everywhere you look there is something that calls for your attention. Even people who have had a regular schedule in the city can find themselves overworked in the country and then, it is a danger to neglect the devotional time with God.

Additional stress through long-term credit

Do not get caught in the trap of long-term credit. There may be situations where a small credit does not represent a big risk but, as much as possible, it should be avoided especially when it comes to very large amounts over a long term.

This is very difficult especially for those who want to buy a property in the country, but I know from experience that God still works miracles as it happened when my parents and I miraculously received from the owner a huge reduction of the price of the property, so we stayed within our budget, without credit, and imagine this was the property that we initially thought we would never even go to see it because it was too expensive!

Expecting an easy life -  a fatal illusion

Country life is not only very beautiful but also very challenging, and yet this is exactly the way how God uses it to polish character.

Speaking even in a general way, it is a mistake to think that the Christian life is an easy life: It is not easy but as a hymn says: "it is glory just to walk with Him".

“The Christian life is compared to the life of a soldier, and there can be no bribes presented of ease and self-indulgence. The idea that Christian soldiers are to be excused from the conflicts, experiencing no trials, having all temporal comforts to enjoy, and even the luxuries of life, is a farce. The Christian conflict is a battle and a march, calling for endurance. Difficult work has to be done. It often proves fatal to the Christianity of those who, with false ideas of pleasantness and ease, enlist as soldiers in Christ's army and then experience trials. God does not present the reward to those whose whole life in this world has been one of self-indulgence and pleasure...Those who serve under the bloodstained banner of Prince Emmanuel are expected to do difficult work that will tax every power God has given them. They will have painful trials to endure for Christ's sake. They will have conflicts that rend the soul, but if they are faithful soldiers they will say with Paul, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” (EGW, Christ Triumphant, p. 354.3-4).

Just as in gardening, the effort must be continuous and persevering, so it is in the Christian life:

“God leads His people on step by step. The Christian life is a battle and a march. In this warfare there is no release; the effort must be continuous and persevering. It is by unceasing endeavor that we maintain the victory over the temptations of Satan. Christian integrity must be sought with resistless energy and maintained with a resolute fixedness of purpose.” (EGW, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 313.4).

A further danger is that, having such a good and beautiful life in the country, one can fall into a state of indifference: <<If Jesus comes, he comes, if not, it does not matter, I have a good life>>. There is a danger that the desire for the imminent coming of Jesus can disappear, and as a result,  the missionary zeal too.

May the Lord help us, even though we live in the country, to invest time in missionary work and thus hasten the return of the Lord.

Another trap can be getting caught in the web of overwhelming worries: <<Will I have the money for all the necessary projects that need to be solved?>> or <<I worked so hard  and  now the harvest has been destroyed... >> or <<I do not know what to do first, there are so many urgent matters to solve and not enough time>>, etc.

But there is hope: “Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.” (Psalm 124:7 KJV).

May the Lord help us to practically implement this verse in our lives: “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 KJV).

A fatal danger: the attachment of the heart to earthly possessions

Imagine for a moment that the final crisis has broken out and persecution has intensified more and more... Let us suppose that your property will be taken from you by force or that you, in order to escape persecution, will have to leave it... Will your heart be attached to it? Will you look back like Lot's wife?

May the Lord help us that although we live on this earth, we may already move our hearts and our treasures to heaven.

“For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.” (Hebrews 13:14 KJV).

May the Lord help us all to use this instrument "country living" wisely, to do our part in the practical preparation without putting our hope in what we do but in Jesus!

Let us not forget that Satan can use not only bad things, but even good things and blessings to distract us from God. May the Lord help us to always keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, as the words of this hymn say:

“Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart

Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art

Thou my best thought, by day or by night

Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light

…

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall

Still be my vision, O ruler of all”

Geanina Lungu lives, together with her parents, in a small village in Germany.

Her prayer is that God will help her to be a blessing to others and to draw closer and closer to God every day until one day she will see her Creator face to face.