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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
Sticky spots in the mind are hard to create; they just seem to be there without much operator input. That's what a former acquaintance of mine used to call the mental repositories where he stored memories that he recalled seemingly at will. However, those sticky spots can be accentuated or augmented by certain actions. Today's message concerns an event that is worth remembering and actions that the people of God took to insure that a sticky spot was created in the minds of all who cared.
“And those twelve stones which they [the Israelites] took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal. Then he spoke to the children of Israel, saying: 'When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, “What are these stones?” then you shall let your children know, saying, “Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land”; for the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over, that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever.'” (Joshua 4.20-24).
I suppose if the events that were memorialized on the occasion just cited had taken place today, a multitude of participants would have whipped out their cell phones or PDA's and taken pictures or videos of the event. However, these events happened in an era long before such things existed. Anyway, the digital image that exists on a thumb drive or an SDS card can only be seen by those who have a device of a similar capability. The twelve stones that the children of Israel set up were different. When Joshua set them up in Gilgal, they were there for every one to see! There was no need for a device other than the two eyes that God gave them. And even the blind could be led there to feel the stones and review their meaning. The stones were a memorial that could be seen and which automatically formed questions in the minds of all who saw them.
The Scriptures seem to take for granted the fact that future generations would care and that others acquainted with the facts would shoulder the responsibility of handing down the historical events that shaped the present. After all, what person dwelling in the Promised Land and partaking of its blessings would not pause to thank his predecessors for making his pleasant stay possible? Surprise! Actually many would later pass by these same stones and not so much as cast their eye in their direction. God's actions in setting up the stones left them without excuse. If they chose to ignore the efforts of the fathers, they could do so, but not without overtly overlooking a memorial which was intended to create and fill sticky spots in their minds!
God also established other memorials to serve similar purposes. The ordinance of baptism is not a heap of stones, but it is a living demonstration that reenacts the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (see Romans 6.1-6). In a similar vein, the Lord's Supper was instituted so that all future generations could “Do this in remembrance of Me.” (see Luke 22.19). There are similarities in these memorials, but there is also a significant difference. The stones in Gilgal, once placed there needed nothing more than a passerby for their effect to be achieved. However, baptism and the Lord's Supper demand willing participants in all generations in order for their message to be perpetuated.
Baptism is a marvelous act which entitles us to tell the story of Jesus by our lives. The Lord's Supper is an act which proclaims His death until He comes (1 Corinthians 11.26). We can create sticky spots that change lives, affect the world in which we live, and help in populating heaven with the souls of others.
Questions:
1. Why were twelve stones chosen and not 10 or 15?
2. From a human perspective, why was such a memorial effective? Could anyone see the stones and not understand that something unusual or important had happened there?
3. What effect can the two Christian ordinances mentioned have on others? What is our obligation as believers toward these ordinances? Toward others who see these ordinances as they are enacted?
4. Would anyone pass by these ordinances and not so much as cast an eye? Can they be helped? If so, how?
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