Altar of Remembrance.
“…To serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.” (Joshua 4:6-9)
In the early stages of a relationship, everything is still so new and shiny. The two people are so intrigued by how they could go from strangers to lovers in such a short period of time. They might frequently and openly marvel at the first time they had a conversation or their first kiss. Anyone who asks will get the full story, not sparing any details. And there’s something special about the way that re-telling the story makes this couple fall more in love. The power of remembering.
If you thought this just became a dating blog, keep reading! See, God is a huge fan of the “re-tell”. In the Old Testament, there are many instances of someone building a physical altar, usually of stones, so they would see a visual reminder of what God had done. After Noah and his family experienced the flood, before worrying about “next”, Noah built an altar and worshipped (Genesis 8:20). In our passage today, Joshua instructed the people to build a similar altar, to teach future generations about God’s faithfulness. And this is not an antiquated Old Testament practice. In the New Testament, the Church began when the disciples went around telling about their experience with Jesus. The synoptic gospels in the Bible, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, are altars of remembrance as they detail Jesus’ ministry.
Altars of remembrance are so important that when the disciples told about Christ, people believed and were saved! What if your story, your act of remembering, is what opens someone’s heart to the Good news of the Gospel?
Today, build your altar. Find old pictures, journal entries, even old outfits, and tell the story of the faithfulness of God. Just as with the couple, each time you recall the story, it will inspire others and increase your own faith. Don’t forget to remember.
