What Do These Stones Mean?

Based on a sermon preached on July 8, 2012 by Steve Fountain. 

Monuments serve as a reminder to people of significant events in human history. For Americans, such monuments — from  historical markers that dot our highways and back roads to the grandest structures in our nation's capital, each serve as an opportunity to teach our children about the path our ancestors blazed.

If you think about it, each of us leaves behind our own little monuments — things that our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will ask about — books, photographs, collectibles, unpaid bills, etc. 

While these things won't likely be as grand as the Lincoln Memorial, they will nonetheless require an answer to the question “What does this mean to you?”

In the Bible, we read in Joshua that after the death of Moses, God appoints Joshua leader of the Israelites. He leads God's people over the Jordan River into the Promised Land. The people were witness to yet another of God's miraculous acts as the river is stopped to allow crossing on dry riverbed. 

In Joshua 4, we read that Joshua orders one man from each of the 12 tribes of Israel to pick up a stone from the river where the crossing was made and carry each to the location of their first camp in the Promised Land for use as a memorial.

“...That this may be a sign among you when you children ask in time to come, saying, 'What do these stones mean to you?' Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.” (Joshua 4:6-7).

Clearly, these stones weren't meant for the Israelites to boast of their own accomplishments. They were meant to glorify God by recounting His supernatural actions and for His people to express their gratitude and praise.

By this Biblical lesson, will the things we are collecting now glorify God or be a convicting testimony of our own pursuits? When our children see us value these things today — and when our grandchildren pick up these things tomorrow and ask “why,” what will be revealed?

Is our movie collection full of pornography, gratuitous violence and stories heralding people acting out of their own selfish desires? Were we known for speaking wisely or for busting off dirty jokes and being a good cusser? Will our children see that we value Facebook, texting and vegging in front of the TV more than we do talking to them or teaching them about the Bible?  Were we a slave to fashion, cars and technology, or a cheerful giver to ministries and charities?  How about our Ipod or MP3 player? What is on our book shelf or e-reader? There are no 50 shades of gray when it comes to what God teaches us is sin and what is good. 

Did our personal example show a reliance and trust in God, or a ill-placed focus on ourselves?  Indeed, the Christian walk is not an easy one as it runs counter to everything the world teaches us is important. Christians will stumble and sin. But their sincere repentance and seeking of God's forgiveness in and of itself serves as a great example for children.