“Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”

Philippians 3:8 (NLT)

WHAT THE WORLD VALUES IS TEMPORARY

When Paul says, “everything else is worthless,” he’s not exaggerating. He’s putting life in perspective. The things we tend to chase, such as fame, money, influence, and image, are temporary. They don’t last. But knowing Jesus? That’s eternal. That’s the one pursuit that truly satisfies and endures.

There was once a man who built a beautiful sandcastle by the sea. He worked for hours, sculpting towers and walls, protecting the castle with moats and deep trenches. Finally, at the end of a weary day of building, the tide came in, and in a matter of minutes, the sandcastle washed away as if it had never been there. He stood by the shore empty-handed, amazed that such beauty could vanish so quickly.

Like this man’s story, we can spend our lives making earthly investments, like those sandcastles. But when the waves of time, loss, or change rise, they disappear. However, for those who invest in their relationship with Christ and in things that will matter for eternity, those investments will remain.

Consider the plight of a businessman who once devoted his life to building an empire. He spent years climbing the corporate ladder, amassing wealth and recognition. But when his health began to fail, he realized he had spent so much time investing in things that could not last. One day, sitting in a hospital room, he told his son, “I built towers of money but forgot to build a life with God. Don’t do what I did.”

What are you building your life upon: sand or rock? What “sandcastle” areas in your life need to be replaced with the solid foundation of Jesus?

Steve Roach serves as the Pastor of Spiritual Growth at NorthStar Church. He and his wife, Amy, live in Acworth and have three girls, Olivia, Sydney, and Hayley and one son, Colton.  He enjoys watching sports and spending time with his family.