Landmarks serve a monumental purpose of remembrance. In April 1863, in Columbus, Mississippi after decorating graves of her two sons, an elderly woman moved to two unmarked mounds where she began to give the same attention and décor. Upon being notified that under those mounds lay the bodies of two Union soldiers, the woman replied, “I know. I also know that somewhere in the North, a mother or a young wife mourns for them as we do for ours.” One lady grew to a band of ladies who set into motion what we now call Memorial Day; a monumental task, for a monumental purpose, now a monumental event.
Monuments exist across our great United States to remind us of our heritage. The Washington Monument is scattered with scripture. The Statue of Liberty welcomes all who would come into the land of the free. Memorials stand in honor of veterans from the Civil War to our nation’s most recent excursions. Monuments stand as reminders of landmark days both good and bad. From Plymouth rock to ground zero, America has always been a nation eager to preserve its national history.
Perhaps one of the most intriguing memorials was erected when Joshua led the people of Israel across the Jordan. Remember, the water stopped flowing just as the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant stepped into the water at the river’s edge. They stood in the middle of the riverbed until the people had crossed safely into the Promised Land.
While crossing, Joshua instructed 12 men, one from each tribe, should gather 12 large stones to be erected as a monument on the bank of Jordan. Joshua 4 says, “That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? Then ye shall answer them That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it passed over Jordan, the water of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever….and they are there unto this day.”
These stones represented a time of provision, and reflected upon a time of battle. The Jordan, is forever Landmarked by God not only as a display of his power, but as an opportunity for others to share of his providence. Can you imagine that little child coming home from playing wit his friends asking, “Papa, why are those rocks stacked out there?” Papa takes his son on his knee and begins to share the account passed down to him of a time when God did the supernatural. The child’s eyes lit with delight, and his imagination sparked with curiosity, “Papa, could you tell me the rock story again?” Without hesitation Papa would share this account innumerous times, for someday his little boy would passing this story along to the next generation.
Friend, where are your monument landmarks? Have you intentionally constructed landmarks in your life that will spark the curiosity of the coming generation? Do your landmarks point back to the God who miraculously provided for you? As believers will we fight to preserve the landmarks that remain, pointing back to our country’s foundation upon the Word of God? Upon our departure from this life, will our lives serve as landmarks of faith? No matter how old or how young, now is the time to begin construction. Carve out landmarks in your time, finances, and faith that will allow the next generation to ask, “What mean these stones?” Believer…where are the monuments?
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