Building on the Rock: Lessons from the Chilean Dunes
Facebook-f Instagram Youtube Building on the Rock A couple of buildings constructed on sand dunes in the coastal city of Viña del Mar, Chile, have made headlines. The images are striking due to two large sinkholes formed by the shifting sands right next to these imposing structures. One of the causes was torrential rainfall that occurred during those days, and obviously, building on sand dunes might not have been the best idea. For many years, there has been a legal battle between those trying to protect these dunes as a natural sanctuary and the real estate companies that own the land. Furthermore, the regulatory chaos in the country has contributed to this unfortunate event. For those who are familiar with the Bible, it’s impossible not to recall the words of Jesus in Matthew 7: 24 “Everyone, then, who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall because it had been founded on rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!” It seems incredible that such an obvious principle as not building on sand was overlooked in the case of these buildings in Chile. One can’t help but wonder, where were the engineers, architects, and authorities? Were economic interests more important than common sense? Perhaps advancements in engineering gave them the confidence to proceed. In the story from Matthew, Jesus is telling the crowds who are listening, and all of us today, that by hearing and practicing His teachings, we will be like that wise man. The meaning of prudence, according to the dictionary, is to avoid bold actions, prevent risks, and handle things conservatively to avoid mistakes. Prudence comes from the verb “to provide,” which means to see from afar or foresee. So, no matter what you are building, you need a solid foundation, because the rain will pour, the rivers will rise torrentially, the winds will relentlessly blow, and whatever you have constructed will inevitably be tested. What are you building? A family? A professional career? A business? Whatever it may be, you will face the storm. The Lord makes it clear that we will all confront this powerful adversity and pressure. The difference between a disastrous outcome and a happy ending will be your foundation, and I hope it is the rock. It’s sad for those who hear the words of Jesus with indifference, little interest, or disbelief, building their lives on sand, thinking there are no consequences. The rain catches them off guard, floods come, and the winds batter their construction until it collapses. Their failure becomes a public, painful, and shameful event. Whether you are just starting to build your life or have an advanced structure, it’s always time to change your foundation to the Rock. Even if you find yourself in the club of the fallen, you have a fresh opportunity to start anew, wisely and intelligently, building on the rock. JESUS is the ROCK. Psalm 62: 6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.7 On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God. 8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Subscribe to our newsletter Don’t miss new updates on your email
Edificando sobre la Roca: Lecciones desde las Dunas de Chile
Facebook-f Instagram Youtube Edificando sobre la Roca Un par de edificios construidos sobre dunas de arena en la ciudad costera de Viña del Mar, Chile, han sido noticia. Las imágenes son impactantes debido a dos grandes socavones formados por el desplazamiento de la arena justo al lado de estas imponentes estructuras. Una de las causas fue una lluvia torrencial que ocurrió en esos días, y claramente, construir en dunas de arena quizás no fue la mejor idea. Durante muchos años, ha habido una batalla legal entre aquellos que intentan proteger estas dunas como un santuario natural y las empresas inmobiliarias que son propietarias de los terrenos. Además, el caos regulatorio en el país ha contribuido a este lamentable evento. Para aquellos que conocen la Biblia, es imposible no recordar las palabras de Jesús en Mateo 7: “24 Cualquiera, pues, que me oye estas palabras y las hace, le compararé a un hombre prudente, que edificó su casa sobre la roca. 25 Descendió lluvia, y vinieron ríos, y soplaron vientos, y golpearon contra aquella casa; y no cayó, porque estaba fundada sobre la roca. 26 Pero cualquiera que me oye estas palabras y no las hace, le compararé a un hombre insensato, que edificó su casa sobre la arena; 27 y descendió lluvia, y vinieron ríos, y soplaron vientos, y dieron con ímpetu contra aquella casa; y cayó, y fue grande su ruina.” Parece increíble que un principio tan obvio como no construir sobre arena haya sido pasado por alto en el caso de estos edificios en Chile. Uno se pregunta: ¿dónde estaban los ingenieros, arquitectos y autoridades? ¿Fueron los intereses económicos más importantes que la sensatez? Quizás los avances de ingeniería les dieron la confianza necesaria para hacerlo. En el relato de Mateo, Jesús les está diciendo a las multitudes que lo escuchan, y hoy a todos nosotros, que al oír y poner en práctica sus enseñanzas, seremos como ese hombre prudente. El significado de la prudencia, de acuerdo al diccionario, es evitar acciones audaces, prevenir riesgos y manejarnos de manera conservadora para no equivocarnos. La prudencia proviene del verbo “proveer”, que significa ver de lejos o prever. Entonces, sea lo que estés construyendo, necesitas un buen cimiento, porque la lluvia arreciará, los ríos subirán torrencialmente, los vientos azotarán implacablemente, y lo que hayas construido será puesto a prueba inevitablemente. ¿Qué estás construyendo? ¿Una familia? ¿Una carrera profesional? ¿Una empresa? Sea lo que sea, pasarás por el vendaval. El Señor deja claro que todos enfrentaremos esta poderosa adversidad y presión. La diferencia entre un final desastroso y un final feliz será tu cimiento, y espero que sea la roca. Es triste para aquellos que escuchan las palabras de Jesús con indiferencia, poco interés o incredulidad, construyendo sus vidas sobre la arena, pensando que no hay consecuencias. La lluvia los sorprende, vienen las inundaciones y los vientos azotan su construcción hasta que se derrumba. Su fracaso se convierte en un evento público, penoso y vergonzoso. Ya sea que estés comenzando a construir tu vida o tengas una edificación avanzada, siempre es tiempo de cambiar tus cimientos por la Roca. Incluso si te encuentras en el club de los fracasados, tienes una nueva oportunidad para comenzar de nuevo, de manera inteligente y sabia, construyendo sobre la roca. JESUS es la ROCA. Salmo 62: 6 Solo Dios es mi salvación y mi roca; él es mi refugio, no resbalaré. 7 Solo Dios es mi salvación y mi gloria; ¡Dios es mi roca fuerte y mi refugio! 8 Pueblos todos, ¡confíen siempre en Dios! ¡Vaciad vuestro corazón delante de él! ¡Dios es nuestro refugio! Suscríbete a nuestras noticias Don’t miss new updates on your email
Psalm 23
Facebook-f Instagram Youtube Salmos 23 On September 11, 2011, a part of Psalm 23 was quoted by President George W. Bush in the speech he gave on television to the nation due to the serious attacks that occurred on the twin towers.Without a doubt it was an event that changed the whole world and at that moment where sadness, chaos, uncertainty, fear and where the morale of the American people was hit hard, many people found comfort and refuge in Psalms 23, and it is precisely in those places, during the walk of our lives, where we are lost, broken, without strength, without hope crossing the path of shadow and death where the good shepherd comes to rescue us. Although many people come to take just a little of the gospel, in those moments of affliction, but Jesus came to rescue them completely, even giving his life on the cross to redeem us from sin and deliver us from death. But there is something else that should not be missed from Psalm 23 and it is the following “he leads me beside still waters” I would like to ask you, are you being led by Jesus?Not only receiving the small benefit of comfort in moments of brokenness, but being guided by Jesus to green pastures, to still waters to the right paths. It is only in that place where there is no longer fear That is why I would like to ask again, are you Hearing the voice of the Good Shepherd? Are you following his word? If not, what voices are you hearing? John 1011 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. Foto de Anthony Fomin en Unsplash Subscribe to our newsletter Don’t miss new updates on your email
The Narrow Path and a WWII Bomber
Facebook-f Instagram Youtube El Camino Estrecho y las Lecciones que nos dejo la historia de un bombardero de la WW2 In 1943, in the context of the Second World War, a B-24 bomber called “Lady Be Good” together with a squadron of B-24 of the United States Air Force, took off from the Libyan city of Suluq crossing the Mediterranean to complete the night mission to bomb the Italian city of Naples. Due to a sand storm only 4 bombers were able to continue the mission and reach their objective. After the operation and during the journey back to Suluq, Lieutenant William Hatton communicates by radio that the navigation systems of his B-24 are failing, encountering serious difficulties in locating.The crew of the “Lady Be Good” had fallen far behind the other 3 planes, and the cloud-filled night sky made it impossible to locate the route back to base.Several flares were launched from Suluq, which could not be seen by both pilots due to the poor weather conditions. Finally the Lady be Good never returned to her base. The Lady Be Good was found 15 years later 435 miles from her base in the middle of the Sahara desert.Before knowing what happened, let’s look at Psalm 1 that tells us about the 2 paths, one represents life and the other ends in death. It is important to remember that in the gospel there are no middle terms.Jesus taught this same truth in Matthew 7:13-14.The Narrow Gate 13 ‘Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy[a] that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. 14 For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it. In today’s world, where personal opinions seem to be more important than God’s truth, Jesus teaches that it is easy to go the broad way, many walk it, by the currents of this world they are literally carried as a leaf is carried. by the wind as indicated in psalm 1 in verse 4 “The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.” Going back to the story of the Lady Be Good, it was discovered that that night on the return flight to its base, after having completed the mission, strong tailwinds pushed the Lady Be Good and apparently it flew over its base without realizing that they were passing over three hours ahead of schedule, despite the fact that their flight instruments indicated that they were already at their base, the logic of being three hours earlier prevented them from believing and trusting their instruments, producing a serious navigation error that would lead the crew to death in the middle of the Sahara desert. Proverbs 14:12 says “There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death” In contrast to this tragedy Proverbs 3:7 says Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. To close let’s observe the words of Jesus “For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” There are wonderful promises of finding and staying on that narrow path described in Psalm 1 as: Joy, delight in the law of the Lord, being like trees planted by streams of fresh water, bearing fruit, ever green, in Contrasted with those who are like dry leaves blown by the wind with no destination, no will and on the way to destruction, Those who are in Jesus who is the way and abide in his words receive life. Subscribe to our newsletter Don’t miss new updates on your email