Castles in the Sand (Deuteronomy 6:1-12)

If you've ever been to the beach, you probably have tried to build a sand castle. Most sand castles I have built or have seen in real time are pretty simple. However, I've seen video and pictures of some pretty elaborate sand castles. The world's tallest sand castle was built in Duisburg, Germany, measuring about 55 feet tall. No matter how simple or how ornate, every sand castle is temporary. A castle in the sand will not stand against a raging tide. Many families are like castles in the sand. They are fragile and are temporary against the raging tide of the world. Deuteronomy 6 gives us the greatest blueprint for the most stable family foundation possible. This passage shows believers how to build a permanent home that will never fail.

I. The Lord's Purpose (Verses 1-3)

The beginning of Deuteronomy 6 reveals to the children of God his purpose and their consequences for obeying God's commandments and statutes. God instructed his children not only to do God's commandments, but to do them all the days of their lives. The consequences for obeying God are great and they are eternal. These commandments are for ourselves, our children, and for our grandchildren. We are responsible for three generations, beginning with ourselves. The consequences for obedience is that our days will be prolonged, things will go well, and we will multiply greatly. Those who follow God in obedience do enjoy blessing upon blessing. However, if the contrary is true, our life and our family will end up like a castle in the sand, eventually being destroyed by an inevitable tide. No better example of this is found in Genesis 19 and the story of Lot. Lot pitched his tent near Sodom and Gomorrah, two cities raging with sin. He didn't spend time teaching his children or practicing God's statutes. Eventually, he fell so far away from God, he offered his virgin daughters to foreign men of the city. Additionally, his wife loved sin city so much that she disobeyed God and looked back as they were fleeing the destruction of the cities. As she disobeyed and looked back, she became a pillar of salt.

II. The Lord's Plan (Verses 4-9)

Verse 4, "Hear O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You should love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might." is often the first section of scripture that a Jewish child learns. It is found here and also in Mark 12. Jesus was asked what is the greatest commandment. He replied, "Hear O Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." These words are so important, God instructs his followers to teach them diligently to their children at all times- when sitting, when walking, at bedtime, and upon rising. This is the foundation of the Jewish faith, and it should be the foundation of any believer's faith. I'm afraid that we have failed to teach God's statues diligently. Yes, we take our children to church, and we may even pray with them and read the Bible with them. Our culture bears the burden of us falling away from God. This type of teaching; this type of loving God is a challenge for us today. If we are able to follow through, what will our blessings hold?

III. The Lord's Caution (Verses 10-12)

God promises all his riches- splendid cities that you didn't have to build, houses full of good things that you didn't have to fill, cisterns that you did not have to dig, vineyards and olive trees that you did not have to plant. You will be able to eat and be satisfied. God's promise of blessing is satisfying. His caution is to "watch yourself, that you do not forget." With everything in the world pulling us away from being diligent in God's word, we must never forget and continue to obey God's command to pass on our spiritual heritage to our children and grandchildren. Three main things pull at our hearts and minds and cause us to fail at loving God with all of our heart and mind. First, wealth is a deceptive trap. It is not money that pulls us away, it is the continuous want for selfish desires. It seems that we can't get enough. Secondly, technology takes many people away from reality. A tiny four-inch screen has such great power over many people, especially children. Nothing saddens me more than to see a family sitting around a table, glued to their devices- both children and parents. No conversation and certainly no bonding happens when everyone is in their own world. Thirdly, the breakdown of authority is predominately practiced by both children and adults. It is a dangerous thing to chose police officer as a career today. School teachers, police officers, and even parents are disrespected more than ever. Disrespect begins in the home. If home is a sand castle because the statutes of God are not stressed, then what else can we expect? Let us begin each day with this simple prayer, Hear O Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is one. I will love the Lord my God with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my mind and with all my strength. Amen.

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