Building Sandcastles

“No one knows when that day or time will be, not the angels in heaven, not even the Son. Only the Father knows.” Matthew 24:36

As we approach Maundy Thursday, the journey of Jesus is one step closer to the cross. The Final Week of Jesus by Max Lucado invites us to discover what was on the heart of Jesus…the message He had for His followers to hear. His message to them was the same message to us…live our lives in a manner where we are not got off guard when our day of departure comes. Jesus shared three parables urging His listeners to always be ready to exchange our life on earth for heaven.

Max Lucado asks us to visualize a little boy building a sand castle on the beach. I can just see him now…squatting…digging…squinting...perhaps a sunburned back. After packing the little red bucket with wet sand, he flips it over and pounds it with his little chubby fist. After carefully lifting the bucket, a castle is constructed. He meticulously shovels a little mote around the wet structure and collects shells placing them precisely where windows and doors should be. He spends his entire time on the beach building his kingdom. At the end of the day, he bids it farewell as the tide flows into the kingdom and dissolves its structure. The little boy isn’t sad or distressed because of the joy he had in building on the beach. He knew the kingdom would only last as long as the tide was at bay. He even jumps up and down clapping his little hands as he watches the powerful ocean beckon the sand home. What a beautiful image of how to live life on this earth which was the lesson of Jesus the week leading up to His departure.

Just as the sand belongs to the sea, our lives belong to God. He has brought us to this day full of blessings, favor, and success. He desires to see us enjoy the building of our lives on earth but with the backdrop of heaven always in view. We must be like that little boy taking joy in building…collecting… constructing. But we must keep in mind that the sea always reclaims the sand, and the Father always reclaims life with His children.

“And I don’t know much about sandcastles. But children do. Watch them and learn. Go ahead and build, but build with a child’s heart. When the sun sets and the tides take – applaud. Salute the process of life, take your father’s hand, and go home.” P. 75