The sands of time
Notes
Transcript
Communion: "Good morning, church. Before we open God's Word, we're going to take communion together. And as we prepare our hearts, I want you to look at this hourglass.
Each grain of sand falls one by one, marking a moment that is now gone forever. It’s a picture of time—our time. Our lives are a collection of these fleeting moments. The sand in the top represents the future we cannot see. The sand in the bottom is the past we cannot change. And the narrow neck… that is the present moment. “The now”. Which I will go over in todays message.
Communion is a 'narrow neck' moment. It’s a holy, present moment where God invites us to stop, to look back in remembrance, to remember the grace given, and to look forward in hope. Let’s prepare our hearts to meet with the Lord.
"Consider the sand flowing in this glass. Jesus Christ entered our world of flowing sand. He was born, He lived, He worked, He taught and ministered—His life was measured in days and hours, just like ours. Every moment of His life was a step toward a single, appointed time: the cross.
When He took this bread, He was holding a symbol of His own body, which, in just a few hours, would be broken. His time on earth was finite, but what He did in that time was infinite. He willingly allowed His body—this fragile vessel—to be broken to pay for all our broken moments, for all the sand in our past that is marked by sin and regret.
The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 11:24
24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
As we take this bread, we remember a specific moment in time that changed all of eternity. Let us eat and remember together the Lord’s sacrifice.
"Look again at the hourglass. See the sand that has collected in the bottom? That is our past. For many of us, that pile contains guilt, shame, and failure. It’s a record of moments we wish we could take back, but we can’t.
25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
The blood of Jesus Christ flows over the entire pile of our past. It doesn't erase what happened, but it redeems it and forgives it. It washes every grain of sand clean. Your past is no longer a monument to your failure, but a testimony to His grace.
This cup is not only about the past; it’s a promise for the future. The sand is still flowing in the top bulb, representing the days we have yet to live. This cup seals a covenant—a promise that no matter what those future moments hold, we belong to Him and are forgiven. We do this 'until he comes,' which means our time has a final destination: an eternity with Him where time itself will be no more.
As we drink from this cup, we remember the sheading of His blood for forgiveness for our past sins and sealing our hope for the future. Let us drink and remember together."
Summer it the Sand: Moses / wrote this
12 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Old westerns movies lawmen would say to the villain “your days are numbered”. This phrase signifies that the villain's time of freedom, power, or life is nearing its end.
"There are two absolutes in life" - "death and taxes".
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
An hourglass is our illustration today.
The hourglass was invented in Europe sometime in the early 14th century to help keep time.
Sailors would use it because it was accurate even in turbulent seas. Monasteries would use them to time prayers, then they were used in kitchens for cooking times. Before clocks, churches would put them on the pulpit of long winded pastors.
1. The Top Bulb: The future God has allotted.
The Illustration: The sand in the top bulb represents all the days, hours, and moments God has ordained for your life. It's a finite, specific amount. We can see that there's sand there, but we don't know exactly how much.
The Point: Our future is a gift from God, held in His sovereign hands. We make our plans, but His purpose is what will ultimately stand. This isn't meant to cause anxiety, but to foster trust. We don't need to know how much time we have; we need to know the One who holds our time.
Connecting Scripture: Proverbs 19:21
21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
2. The Bottom Bulb: Our past redeemed by grace.
The Illustration: The sand in the bottom bulb is the past. It’s a collection of moments already lived—successes, failures, joys, and regrets. For an 80-year-old, the pile is large; for a 12-year-old, it's small. Once a grain falls, you can't put it back in the top.
The Point: We cannot change our past, but God can redeem it. For the believer, that pile of sand isn't a monument to our mistakes; it's a testimony to God's grace. The blood of Christ washes over every grain, making our past a story of His faithfulness, not our failure.
Connecting Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
3. The Narrow Neck: The power of the present moment.
The Illustration: This is the most critical part of the hourglass. Sand doesn't flow in a clump; it passes one grain at a time through the narrow neck. This is the "now." It's the only place where potential (the future) becomes reality (the past).
The Point: We can't live in the future (the top bulb) or the past (the bottom bulb). We can only live in the present moment the NOW. This single grain is where we make our choices, where we love, where we forgive, where we obey, where we serve, where we repent. This is where our faith becomes action. Are we using this one-grain-at-a-time opportunity for God's glory?
"We are told to redeem the time. Not to kill time, not to waste time, not to improve time, but to redeem it. That means to buy it up, to make it our own by filling it with good works." - D.L. Moody
Connecting Scripture: John 9:4 Jesus heals a blind man.
4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.
Jesus was speaking of himself and his disciples as coworkers. Us as well.
4. The glass, like life, is fragile.
The Illustration: The entire hourglass is made of fragile glass. It could be dropped and shattered at any moment. Our lives are held within this container.
The Point: Life is fragile. We are not invincible. This reality should not lead to fear, but to humility and urgency.
Connecting Scripture: James 4:14
14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
Some of you have accepted Christ as your Savior. This is your narrow-neck moment. The “Now” before it is to late.
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
Come: carries the meaning of “make room for.” - NOW
Repentance: Change of mind, accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
When the top of the hourglass is empty, it will be to late. Now is the time to get right with God.
