Sermon On The Mount: Conclusion #2, Sand Castles

Everyone who hears these Sayings of Mine, and does not do Them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.

Matthew 7:26-27 (NKJV)

Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.

Psalm 127:1 (NKJV)

I was once a builder of sand castles, starting on South Carolina beaches. It was bright and salty fun that brought joy to everyone. We all laughed at the power of the waves.

As I grew up, my projects grew bigger. I became a dedicated builder--building a home, family, and career. Each one had an admirable facade. In my extraordinary busyness, God became distant to me. So did joy. As decades blew by, hard waves beat me down. My buildings crumbled.

At the age of 51, I traveled back in time: laid bare like the little girl in the dirt. Jesus met me there, with love and kindness. The reconstruction of my life began:

My new Teacher is God’s Master Builder. He told me that man’s highest achievements are all accidents waiting to happen and passing structures waiting to crumble… without God’s plan and power behind them.

What happened with my life’s reconstruction? Many incredible things, including:

  • My ex-husband stayed gone and remarried, but I got engaged to the King of kings. (Footnote: years later, I remarried, too, to the best man on earth… at least for me :)

  • My daughters became born-again Christians. They married good men. I’m a grandmother, with a happy and growing family.

  • My business in talent development gained a wonderful, God-driven focus: launching His Own stars as positive lights… in film, fashion, music, and theatre

To all who were (or are) as I once was, give everything you think you love to God. Because without Him, it’s all destined to fatigue and failure. Forget what the world says is important, because THE WORLD LIES. All that matters is what God says and builds.

Let’s ALL return to our little child selves.

  • Down and dirty, we ask our Father’s help.

  • With laughter and tears, with joy and wonder,

  • We watch our sand castles… wash away.

Without a doubt, He will rebuild our lives into lovely and beautiful structures that will stand as timeless memorials.

Sermon On The Mount: Conclusion #2, Sand Castles (Part 32)

NOTE: This is a 2023 update of a 2013 Carey Lewis Devotion. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players. Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings.

Carey Arban