What is the foundation of our relationship to God? Do we build on sand or rock? Those who build on rock live by the words of Jesus Christ.

Jesus concluded His sermon on the mount with an incisive admonition to His listeners: "Whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall" (Matthew 7:24-27).

Those who build on rock live by the words of Jesus Christ. Those who build on sand know the words of Jesus, but they don't apply them. And those who do not live by Jesus' words are not His friends: "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you" (John 15:14).

Jesus' admonition is a principle that we find in several places in the Bible, for example in Paul's writings: "Not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified" (Romans 2:13). God isn't interested in theory, but rather in application.

What was one of the main aspects of Jesus' message? We find it right at the start of His public preaching, when He urged His listeners to repent: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel" (Mark 1:15). Advertising consultants would probably tell us that "Repent!" would not be the best opening message to attract new customers, but from the beginning this was a main aspect of Jesus' message about the kingdom of God.

But for some Christian groups today this aspect of Jesus' preaching is not part of their "advertising" for new "customers". Instead, they advertise the opportunity for social contacts. Churches that take this approach promise to provide a friendly, family oriented and caring atmosphere. All denominational and doctrinal differences become irrelevant with this approach. "Let us love you!" and "A church where no new visitor feels left out" are examples of the advertising pitch used by these churches.

Are fellowship and a caring atmosphere a bad thing? Of course not! They are characteristics of the true Christian experience (John 15:13). But those who build on these aspects without living by Jesus' words are building on sand.

The message that we preach to the world today should be the same one that Jesus preached on earth and will preach again when He returns. It is a message of true comfort that our world so desperately needs: "Comfort, yes, comfort My people! says your God. Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned" (Isaiah 40:1-2). And what must precede God's forgiveness for sin? Repentance!

Let's build on rock instead of sand.

With these thoughts I wish everyone a rewarding Sabbath!