Remembrance

Joshua 4:5-7 … and Joshua said to them: “Cross over before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.”  (NKJV).

21 years ago this month my father passed away.  To me, he was the greatest man — apart from Jesus Christ — that ever lived!

I recently visited his grave.  It is in the South Island of New Zealand, a long and costly journey to get there.  So whenever we can, as we did recently while there for a family event, we took the opportunity to visit his burial place.

Over the years as I have been doing this, the emotions always build, and there’s a tear in my eye as I stand and reflect on my father’s life.

Looking at his headstone, my mind fills with memories and events in his life, and the impact he had on me.  In the midst of the emotion, there is incredible gratitude for his life and the way he touched and influenced mine.

I think that is what headstones are for.

Joshua was about to lead the people of Israel over the river Jordon.  He instructed them to take stones, and make a memorial.  In time to come they would be a reminder of God delivering the people through the river Jordon.

Stones are generally regarded as fairly permanent.  There’s something of a lasting quality about them.  The headstone on a grave is the same.  It generally lasts for many years.

As human beings we need the reminders that will last our lifetime and beyond, and into coming generations.

We read in Exodus about the making the garments of the Priesthood.

Exodus 39:6-7 And they set onyx stones, enclosed in settings of gold; they were engraved, as signets are engraved, with the names of the sons of Israel. He put them on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel, as the Lord had commanded Moses.  (NKJV).

Every time the priest went into the Tabernacle to minister, he carried the stones of remembrance on his clothing.  A continual reminder.

Why do we need these reminders?  Most of the answer lies in the text for this Brief Word.

Joshua 4:5-7 … that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off …  (NKJV).

These stones of remembrance were to be the things that reminded the children and coming generations, of a great event and miracle the Lord worked in the history of the people of Israel.  When they were reminded of this, they (supposed to I guess) respond with worship, and awe, and gratitude to the Lord.

That must be a key reason why we too need reminders. To think again of all that the Lord has done in the lives of the ones we’re remembering, which has an impact in our own lives. Thinking about what the Lord has done in their lives and key events, should cause us to give glory, to worship and thank God for their life and therefore our life being shaped the way it has.

Everything our loved ones have gone through, has shaped their lives in some way, which in turn shapes ours as well.  That, is cause to thank God and be grateful.

God is the giver of all things good (see James 1:17), so right there is cause to worship.  The not-so-good things that happen in our loved ones lives and in ours, can and probably has been used by God to bring good, His purpose and beneficial life-lessons.  (See Romans 8:28).

It can be emotional, even painful, to do what I have done many times.  Visit the grave and view the headstone of a loved one.  The purpose is not to revisit the pain of grief.  No.  But I am learning and coming to realise, that the more I do, the more I am reminded of things and events that were part of his life, which I have to be thankful for.

Perhaps you could join me, in that the next time you and I visit the burial place of a dear one, we go with the mindset to remember, reflect, and raise our hearts in gratitude and worship to the Lord.

I’ve found as I am learning do that (and I’m not perfect in this yet), there comes God’s grace and His loving touch upon the pain and grief we can’t not remember.  But I usually come away with a full heart; full of thanks and appreciation for their life, and thanks to the giver and taker of life, for all I am because of what the Lord has done, and of those who’ve gone before me