Jump Start # 1498

Joshua 4:6-7 “Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ Then you shall say to the, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.’ So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.’”

  What a great passage! Israel was crossing the Jordan river, and marching into the promise land. The waters parted, just like a generation ago when their fathers crossed the Red Sea. Twelve men were chosen, one from each tribe, to carry a large stone on their shoulders from the river bottom. Those rocks were reminders of God’s providence, care and promises to Israel. Those rocks were to be reminders. They were placed in such a area that children would see them and ask about them. Telling that story again and again was good for the faith of those parents. The rocks and that story took them back to a time of faith and trust in the Lord. Had they not taken those rocks Israel might have forgotten. People tend to do that. Life moves on. Things get busy. Another generation and it doesn’t mean so much to them. Add yet another generation and it can easily be forgotten.

The same happens to us in many ways. My father fought in WW II. He was a high school student when Pearl Harbor was bombed. That tragedy and attack moved him and most of his classmates to enlist as soon as they could to defend America. For me, a generation later, Pearl Harbor is a historical event that took us into a war and changed our policy of isolationism. For my kids, Pearl Harbor was a movie and something that they studied very briefly in history class. It doesn’t mean that much to them. For their children, my grandkids, Peal Harbor will have even less of a meaning in the big picture of U.S. history.

Without a dozen chosen rocks, Israel would be the same. God wanted them to remember. There are some things that we should never forget.

We should never forget where we came from. Peter mention forgetting the purification from sins. Some have been Christians so long, it’s hard to remember what it was like to have been lost. This affects how we see and treat those who are lost. It helps to remember.

We should never forget what God has done for us. First, He was patient with us and allowed us time to learn, repent and obey Him. He forgave us. He has blessed us. He has molded us. We are polished and improved because of God. Without Him, we would not be the way we are today. Don’t forget that.

We should never forget those wonderful people that helped us in our spiritual journey. Many of those people from those early days are now with the Lord. They taught us in Bible classes. They gave us opportunities to teach and preach. They answered our millions of questions. They kicked us in the pants when we got sluggish. All along the way there has been people who have helped us spiritually. We owe a great gratitude for their service, love and believing in us.

We need our own rocks to remind us. Have you ever thought about that? Here are a few examples:

The Lord’s Supper serves as a weekly reminder of what the Lord did for us on Calvary. Every week, we look at that bread and that cup and remember the Lord who loved, sacrificed and died for us. This is what the Bible is all about. The death of Jesus must never be forgotten. This time of year, the world wants to remember a cute baby in a manger, but the emphasis in the Bible is the dying Savior upon the cross. Don’t ever forget that Jesus loves you and died for you. The church may let you down, Jesus never has. The church may disappoint you, Jesus never will. Rocks.

Photographs are wonderful reminders. Most of us have zillions of photos on our phone and tablets and photo albums buried in a closet somewhere with photos. In my office I have framed photos of many special brethren that have encourage me through the years. I walk in and there they are. As I work, I look up and there they are. I see them all the time. Some are photos of me with preachers that I love so dearly. Some are with godly brethren that have been a special help to me. Those photos are my rocks. I see and I remember. Each has a story. Each helps me. Rocks.

Recently, I have collected a few books that had the signatures of people that I don’t want to forget. I have a few books given to me from the dear wife of Marty Pickup. I wanted his signature in a book. That was a rock for me. I just received a book from the sweet wife of Jim Babcock that has his name in it. That’s another rock that I want to carry. Those are wonderful reminders of good people who loved the Lord and walked closely with Him. Today, they are with the Lord. Rocks.

This summer I was preaching in a couple of lectureships in the South. My son, Jordan, who preaches came to hear me preach. We stayed together in a hotel. I had to leave early one morning to head home. There was a note that he wrote that touched me deeply. That note is now taped inside my Bible. A rock.

My children, when they were small, each had their own Bibles. Whenever we ran into a preacher, they would ask him to sign their Bibles. My children have gone on to newer Bibles but they still have those treasured signatures. I remember so well they asking me if a certain person was a preacher. I’d tell them, “yes.” Immediately, they’d ask for a pen and would race to this side and ask for his signature. Rocks.

Do you have any spiritual rocks that remind you and encourage you? Maybe it’s time you looked for some yourself. Maybe it’s time you went back to your Jordan and picked up a few reminders. Time passes. We get busy. We forget. But a photo on a wall, a name in a book, a note written in a Bible, can serve as a rock that reminds us that we must stay the course and finish what we started.

A rock…

Roger