In a aggressive campaign season when accusations are flung, who can we trust?

We are bitterly divided over issues including management of a pandemic, racial justice, and the economy. Fear and doubt are widespread.

I am reminded of an old 80s Christian song with lyrics that went something like this:

“I put my faith in money

and the stock market went broke.

Thought I could trust my bicycle

till I caught my toe in the spoke.

There must be times when even Dear Abby

doesn’t know what to do.

But if you put your faith in Jesus

I know he’s gonna see you through…”

Our faith can’t be in things, systems, or even people. Our hope is in the God who created us and loves us. We can trust that God keeps promises and will be faithful to us forever.

This video was originally recorded as part of the April 19, 2020 online worship service at Colonial Hills United Methodist Church, San Antonio.

Do you like building things with blocks? I want to try to build a tower with a basket of blocks.

I know! I’ll build my tower right here on this pile of sand. I’ll start with two red blocks, then some blue ones, next the orange, and finally a yellow curved one for the top! It looks great!

My little tower could probably stand like this for a long time, unless it starts to rain.

Let’s pretend that a big storm is coming and the rain will pour down hard on the sand. I wonder what will happen to the tower. (Pour water from a pitcher onto the sand. ) Oh, dear! The tower collapsed because the sand it was standing on got washed away.

Okay, so what if I build a tower on this rock instead? I think I’m going to try it. I’ll start with two red blocks, then some blue ones, next the orange, and finally a yellow curved one for the top! Just like the first tower, it looks great!

But if there’s a rainstorm, I wonder if the rock will get washed away like the sand did. (Pour water from a pitcher onto the rock next to the blocks.) Wow! This rock is solid. It is a much better foundation than sand.

But let’s talk about something more important than building block towers. Let’s talk about building HOPE, in our lives and in the world.

Hope has to be built on something really strong–something we can count on to last forever, even when hard times come. We can build our hope on the unshakable rock solid promises of God.

Promises like: God loves you. God will always be with you. God hears your prayers.

Here’s something rock solid: Jesus is alive! And because of Jesus, we have hope.

^24-25 “These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock.

^26-27 “But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.”

Matthew 7:24-27, The Message