My family found an incredible sand castle on the beach this past summer.  By the time we had left, we had added on to it, making it even bigger.  Making sandcastles can be a fun activity on the beach, but eventually the waves or rain will wash them away.  What is fun on the beach is tragic in life.  Too many people build their lives on things that won’t stand the test of time.  They waste their life building sandcastles that won’t last.

Many people build their lives on their own feelings or desires.  Rather than build their lives on what God says has eternal value, they build their lives on what they want to do in the moment.  They waste their lives building sandcastles that won’t last.

Other people build their lives on things.  They live to get more – as much stuff as they can.  They lay up for themselves treasures on earth that will rust or rot or break instead of laying up treasures in heaven.  They waste their lives building sandcastles that won’t last.

Still others build their lives around fame or popularity.  Perhaps it lasts for awhile, but then it’s gone.  It is fleeting.  And it has no eternal value.  They waste their lives building sandcastles that won’t last.

There are many ways to build our lives around things that won’t last, to waste our lives building sandcastles.  But Jesus calls us to lay up treasures in heaven.  He bids us seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.  He calls us to love God with all of our being, and to love the people around us.  He bids us to live our lives for his glory instead of our own.

What sandcastles are you building?  Isn’t it time you started building something with more substance, something that will stand the test of time?