“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-27

One of my favorite activities when we visit the ocean is building sandcastles. I’m no expert, but over the years, my family and I have managed to create some impressive castles. We spend hours crafting them, all the while knowing the tide is creeping closer. As the waves edge nearer, we frantically try to defend our creation, constructing makeshift walls, rock-and-wood fortifications, and moats to divert the water. At times, we even lie down in front of our beloved sandcastle, hoping to shield it with our bodies. But, as you might guess, nothing can hold back the relentless tide. Before long, we watch as the sea claims our fragile kingdom, and no matter how much effort we put into it, the castle falls, leaving us with a sense of bittersweet defeat.

This image, familiar to anyone who’s ever played at the shoreline, is much like the metaphor Jesus uses in His Sermon on the Mount. He speaks to the very heart of what we wrestle with throughout our lives: Will we build our lives on shifting sand, or will we build them on the solid Rock?

Pastor Mark Nsimbi’s upcoming sermon on Kingdom Investments invites us to reflect on where we spend our time and how we choose to invest in what truly matters. It sounds like worship this weekend could be a wise investment of time.

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White