(the negative and positive use of sand)
Sand is a very important part of our world. We think of sand as something that is not substantial or lasting. Of course, sand is used in several ways.
THE POSITIVE
Here is a paragraph from Answers.com, concerning the use of sand.
"The most common use of sand is in building materials. Sand is mixed with cement and water to make concrete. Sand is used in the manufacture of brick, glass and other materials, and it can also be used as a media for the filtration of water. Sand is also found as a landscaping material, and as an amendment for soil to change its characteristics. Sand is used to make castings, and as an abrasive agent like blasting sand. Sand could be spread on icy roads to improve traction, and is the filler in sandbags. There are other uses for this ubiquitous material, and an investigator would not have to look far to discover more."
THE NEGATIVE
But here is the other side of the story. A life built on sand or a life of sand is not a life of longevity.
A Foundation of Sand. Jesus pointed out that the foolish man built his house on the sand, and the wise man built his house on the rock (Mat. 7:21-27). We should build our lives on rock, The Rock, Jesus (Mat. 16:18; Eph 2:20), rather than on sand.
A Castle of Sand. Many of us have built Sand Castles on the beach, only to see them washed away with the rising tide. It is not just the foundation that needs to be solid, it is also the materials that go into the framing. A life built with the weak and transient materials of this world (wood, hay and stubble) will not stand up in a storm or fire, but a life built with enduring materials (gold, silver, precious stones) will endure (1 Cor. 3:10-15).
A Rope of Sand. When someone lives a life that is focused on the moment and satisfies only the immediate needs, it is like a rope of sand. It may have little or no eventual consequence. Trying to get to heaven on the strength of our own good works is like trying to climb to heaven on a rope of sand. Whitefield said that Wesley's practice of forming small groups of believers was substantial, while his own failure to form groups was a rope of sand.
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