Changing The Landscape

There are things that happen in life that change us. We may choose to have those things happen - college, marriage, kids, job, or we may not choose them - death, tragedy, kids, job. I guess what I want to say is that there are times in life where we come to a place where it is appropriate to build a memorial.

The Bible tells us of a time in the lives of the children of Israel when they did just that: built a memorial. Let's look at Joshua 4:1-7

¹When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, ²"Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, ³and command them, saying, 'Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests' feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.'" ⁴Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. ⁵And Joshua said to them, "Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, ⁶that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, 'What do those stones mean to you?' ⁷then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever."

So, what do I mean with all this memorial talk? Am I telling you that you need to take up sculpting? No, for I would be a poor sculptor I am sure. I suppose the things that are taking place in my life right now - hurricane Ike, the move, not knowing how I will pay my bills - are causing me to realize that I depend on those old memorials in my life.

That is not to say that I don't talk to Papa now. I just mean that when we live our lives it is important to remember how Father has been faithful in the past. It keeps us steady when we get cold feet. It serves as a reminder of His strength in our lives. After all, we humans can have really short memories in times of panic or stress.

Take Israel as an example. Moses leads them out of Egypt. They cross the Red Sea on dry ground. God takes out the whole Egyptian army in one fell swoop. And a few short days later the Israelites are building a golden calf with the help of Moses' mouthpiece and brother, Aaron, so it can be their God.

We should set up memorials to remind us of our present when it becomes our past and we are afraid for the future. Translation: if we do not mark the events of today while they are fresh in our memories, we may not have those memorials to refer to when we need them.

My point is this: we need to remind ourselves sometimes that God has everything under control. It may not always turn out the way we think it ought to, but He didn't leave things on cruise control and go to the fridge for a soda while we're freaking out. He is ever mindful of what we are living through. Occasionally, our memories just need to be jogged, so we can stay focused on Him.

Things happen. Life happens. In many cases there are days that will come and go and will be less than a blip on the radar screens of our lives. However, there are moments in our lives that change everything. They rewrite the landscapes of our lives. They are epiphanic moments that need to be landmarked in this journey. Jacob had one when he wrestled with the angel and his name was changed to Israel (see Genesis 32:22-32).

Just as hurricane Ike has forever changed the coastline of southeast Texas, so too do circumstances in our lives forever alter who we are. Mark those times in your heart. You may not recognize His faithfulness completely in the midst of it, but it will be easier to see in hindsight. You needn't use large rocks as the Israelites did. There's no need to start chipping away at a great block of stone to carve a memorial. But write it down or purpose in your heart to remember.

Let us not forget who Papa is in our lives. Let us be quick to recall His loving kindness. Let us be ever thinking on His faithfulness to us.