A DRIVE BACK DOWN MEMORY LANE
Scripture Reference: Joshua 4:1 – 9; 19 –24
Introduction
Webster’s defines memorial as…
1. Anything intended to preserve the memory of a person or event; something, which serves to keep something else in remembrance; a monument. –Macaulay
2. Something, such as a monument or holiday, intended to celebrate or honor the memory of a person or an event.
Just look around and it won’t be hard to see symbols meant to commemorate memories. Have you ever seen crosses on the side roads and interstates? A memorial. Have you ever seen the large statue of Lincoln in DC? A memorial. Have you ever visited the Vietnam wall? A memorial. What about those roadside makers? One read like this:
Carroll’s Methodist Church
Instituted in 1797, this church was named for the William Carroll family, among its first members. The present building, erected about 1835, was restored in 1951-52 under the leadership of Bishop John H. Baker. Rev. Nelson Osborn (1797-1873) was a life-long member and minister for many years. The renowned Bishop Francis Asbury wrote in his diary: "Friday, Nov. 21, 1799, we drove 16 miles to Carroll’s Meeting House, a New Log Cabin in the Woods. Some of the People of the Congregation are from the East and West Parts of Maryland. I felt the Lord was with them. We have the Kitchen, House and Chamber all in one and no closet but the woods". Marker is 2.5 miles northwest (air line) of Canon.- A MEMORIAL
In April 1863, in Columbus, Mississippi after decorating graves of her two sons who served during the Civil War as Confederate soldiers, an elderly woman also decorated two mounds at the corner of the cemetery capturing the spirit of what a memorial meant. An observer asked, "What are you doing? Those are the graves of two Union soldiers."
The reply, "I know. I also know that somewhere in the North, a mother or a young wife mourns for them as we do for ours." That little band of ladies set in motion what became Memorial Day. Memorial Day is set aside each year to remember those who gave their lives in the armed forces.
We remember those who died on far away battlefields to bring freedom and democracy to oppressed peoples. We commemorate their actions by honoring them in ceremonies across the land. It is sometimes called Decoration Day because people decorate the graves of fallen heroes with flags and flowers.
A life was given so a life could live. Men and women who fell to their death so that we can stand up to our life. Uniforms displayed with pride, so that freedom can be worn proud.
We are addressing Memorial Day, not just an extension into a three-day weekend; Memorial Day, not just an opportunity to break out the grill and eat. Memorial Day, not just an opportunity to forget, but an opportunity to remember.
In a sense this weekend is inviting us to travel back down a road of memories. We are invited to take a drive back down memory lane. Let’s take time to remember men and women who gave their life, but also a God who blessed our lives.
A memorial helps us keep a memory of something significant that has happened alive in our hearts and minds. In a Biblical sense a memorial is a sacrifice, a monument or an event that brings us into remembrance of something that God has done. God knew we would have a tendency to forget, that often times we suffer from spiritual amnesia or Alzheimer. That’s we have memorials.
The word memorial in Scripture comes from a word that means to prick, to pierce, or to penetrate the memory. All throughout the Bible God has ordained that there would be memorials. Remember the rainbow, the stone tablets with the commandments written on them, the jar of manna kept in the ark, circumcision, communion, baptism, the cross are meant to remind us that God has been at work in our lives.
There is specific memorial I draw your attention to found in the text that was established for the purpose of remembering the God who facilitated their deliverance to the promise land.
TRANSITION
At this moment they were told to reach into the Jordan River where the Priest were standing and pull out stones.
There were to be twelve stones representing each tribe of Israel.
There were to be twelve stones representing a rite of passage.
There were to be twelve stones representing the sacred and the divine.
There were to be twelve stones representing a transition from wandering to a position of stability.
There were to be twelve stones representing a memorial to God not a memorial to man.
Stones of evidence that something happen there.
Stones of evidence that at this spot God was here.
Stones of evidence that at this place people and God interconnected at the river.
To everybody else just stones piled up.
To somebody and anybody just a pile rocks heaped upon each other.
To many an obstacle and obstruction standing in the way.
But the text indicates that one day, the children are going to come back and visit this river. Maybe to play or swim or to drink, and they are going to ask, “What do these stones mean to you?”
Joshua told them their response would be…
22 Then you can tell them, ’This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the LORD your God dried up the river right before your eyes, and he kept it dry until you were all across, just as he did at the Red Sea when he dried it up until we had all crossed over. 24 He did this so that all the nations of the earth might know the power of the LORD, and that you might fear the LORD your God forever."
That is why these rocks were put here. A memorial of faith, a memorial of the supernatural at work in a place that seemed impossible. A memorial that reminded them where man couldn’t, God could. A memorial that reminded them that they had passed from death to life, from a hope perceived to a hope received, from talking about milk and honey to drinking milk and eating honey.
Let’s take a drive ourselves back down memory lane. Because maybe this morning many of us are living our lives like we don’t remember where we’ve come from and who it was that got us here to this point today.
I. Memorials Tell of God’s Past Activity, 4:21-23
21 Then Joshua said to the Israelites, "In the future, your children will ask, ’What do these stones mean?’ 22 Then you can tell them, ’This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the LORD your God dried up the river right before your eyes, and he kept it dry until you were all across, just as he did at the Red Sea when he dried it up until we had all crossed over.
Are your children asking you, “What do these stones mean?” Momma, what was it like when you first gave your life to Christ? Was the water cold when you were baptized? Where are the stones that represent that God was active in your yesterday? Where were you when the Spirit got hold of you? What happened in your heart?
Can you go back and recall where you were at the time you sensed that somebody was looking out for you, keeping you, watching over you? You do know that it wasn’t your grandmother that passed or your uncle standing in the invisible shadows looking over your shoulders, but God and His angels?
Somebody ought to be able to testify this morning that God has been with you. When I say testify I mean to give an eyewitness account for yourself what God did when you faced the Jordan rivers of your life.
Can you roll off the years? Can you remember the tears? Are the events still fresh in your active memory or are they fading away? I am not talking about the ghost of Christmas past coming to show what life could have been, but the Holy Ghost who has coming to remind you what has been a life watched over by the Lord.
The Israelites were challenged to remember…
Deuteronomy 8:18 Always remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you power to become rich, and he does it to fulfill the covenant he made with your ancestors.
Deuteronomy 16:12 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, so be careful to obey all these laws.
Deuteronomy 32:7 Remember the days of long ago; think about the generations past. Ask your father and he will inform you. Inquire of your elders, and they will tell you.
But later God would lament and say through Jeremiah the prophet:
Jeremiah 2:2 Go and shout in Jerusalem’s streets: ’This is what the LORD says: I remember how eager you were to please me as a young bride long ago, how you loved me and followed me even through the barren wilderness.
Maybe Solomon was right when he stated in Ecclesiastes 1:11 We don’t remember what happened in those former times. And in future generations, no one will remember what we are doing now.
Help me out this morning. I pray that there is no one here this morning that has forgotten what God has done. I can truly say that God remembered me back in ’75. God was there when I was facing a difficult crisis in ’80. God showed up for me when I thought I had lost it in ’88.
All I am trying to get you to see today is that there should be evidence that God has been at work in your life, through your life, and over your life. Point out where the stones are. Turn to a neighbor and say, “I remember when…” – then fill in the blank.
…We had only one car
…We lived in a one-bedroom apartment
…When I was staying at my in-laws house
…I was only making $7/hour
…I was struggling to get my degree while my wife held down the fort at home
…When my husband wouldn’t come to church
…When the doctor was cutting on me
…When my wife and I almost called it quits
…When that car hit me
…When my husband was working the odd shifts and the long hours
But every single time God was right there by my bedside, in my car seat, in my cubicle, in my kitchen, in my bathroom, wherever the river was about to overtake me, God dried up the river right before your eyes and kept it dry until you and your family went across.
And whether you’re experience is Baptist, Full Gospel, Methodist, Church of God in Christ, Apostolic, Pentecostal, saved, sanctified, filled with the holy ghost, Bible toting, Scripture quoting… the truth of the matter is that God was working out in your life, taking a mess and making it into a masterpiece.
Somewhere along the way he has turned your test into your testimony. He has turned your pain into your pride. He has turned your aches into your strength. Don’t tell me that you got all made up, got in your car and come these few minutes to this place just so you say you came.
You ought to point to the stones. That place in time, that moment in your past, that spot in your life, that spark that got you going, that time you knew she was it…point to the stones.
Not only should a memorial tell of God’s past activity, but also a memorial should tell of the mighty power of God.
II. Memorials Tell of the Mighty Power of God, 4:24
24 He did this so that all the nations of the earth might know the power of the LORD, and that you might fear the LORD your God forever."
A memorial helps us keep a memory of something significant that has happened alive in our hearts and minds.
All throughout the Bible God has ordained that there would be memorials. He has instituted the practice of building and having memorials in our life. It is beneficial for us to remember the things that Jesus has done in each of our lives.
The Bible says that the memory of the righteous is a blessing and it says of the wicked that his memory perishes from the earth.
God did what He did in your life so that folks will know the power of the Lord. Now I understand why I went through some of things I went through. So that folks will know the power of the Lord.
Now I understand why the Lord did heal me right away…so that folks will know the power of the Lord. Now I understand why God let me go hungry sometimes…so that folks will know the power of the Lord.
But not only did the power of the Lord help me through things, but the power of the Lord kept me from things. I wish somebody remembered that it was God’s power
The power of God not only healed your body – he can free your mind.
The power of God not only saved your soul – he can save your sanity.
The power of God not only blessed you – he can enlarge your territory.
The power of God not only held you – but he can give you joy for the journey.
The power of God not only worked it out yesterday – he can work it out tomorrow.
True Disciples would have leaped for joy by now. They would have shouted and praised God. They would have moved their bulletins aside and danced before the Lord. But many of you still don’t believe – in other words, this is too good to be true.
Has God ever done something so great in your life that you didn’t rejoice because it was too good to be true?
You would have thanked him for that promotion that was given over people more qualified – but you needed to check it out first because it was too good to be true….
You would have praised him for the car that you bought even though your credit wasn’t the best – but you needed to get the keys and drive it off the lot first because it was too good to be true….
You should have praised him all day long for that piece of good news in the mailbox – but you wanted to wait to see if that check was good or that promise kept – because it was too good to be true…
You should have lifted up holy hands when the doctor says I think we made a mistake on the X-Ray we can’t find what we saw last week, but you wouldn’t even lift up your hands – because it was too good to be true…The power of God has been at work in your life.
CONCLUSION
I have to end by making an observation. The text read in verse 4 that Joshua instructed them to go into the middle of the Jordan to get the stones. It is only in the midst of the situation that we can pull a stone out for a memorial.
Don’t just remember your first date, your first kiss, your first car, your first house, your first job, your paycheck, your first piece of furniture, your milestone, or your first ring…
Has God ever healed your body? BUILD A MEMORIAL!
Has God ever delivered you from alcohol? BUILD A MEMORIAL!
Has God delivered you from drugs? BUILD A MEMORIAL!
Has God ever put clothes on you and food in you? BUILD A MEMORIAL!
Has God filled you with the Holy Ghost? BUILD A MEMORIAL!
Has God pulled you out of the deep miry clay and set your feet on the solid rock? BUILD A MEMORIAL!
Has God ever met a financial need for you? BUILD A MEMORIAL!
Has God ever blessed you? BUILD A MEMORIAL!
Some Bill Collectors are paid off…
Cancer is unheard of…
Diabetes is under control…
High Blood pressure is lowered down…
Stress is relieved…
Nightmares have turned into dreams…
Nights have turned into days…
Obstacles have turned into opportunities…
Trials have turned into triumph . . .BUILD A MEMORIAL
But I can’t end this message without referencing another stone…
Matthew 21:42 "Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures? ’The stone rejected by the builders has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous to see.’
1 Peter 2:6 As the Scriptures express it, "I am placing a stone in Jerusalem, a chosen cornerstone, and anyone who believes in him will never be disappointed. "
Jesus is a rock in a weary land…
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