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Make Some Monuments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As Israel crossed the Jordan River headed toward the Promised Land God has them to pause to leave the past behind. Leaving the past is necessary to propel us into the future God has for us.

 

In the journey from the desert law to the Promised Land, God wants us to live as if the promises of tomorrow are already realized.

 

The past is past; your sins, your mistakes, your failures, your regrets are ancient history. There's no need to visit them again. However we are to cherish times when God revealed His greatness and glory to you. Cling to these, stack some stones, make a monument and never forget what God has done for you.

 

Replaying this part of your past empowers to experience the promises of the future. If you have left behind fundamental values of the spiritual life go back to square one. Return to your first love, circumcise your heart anew. The Christian life is a faith-based, love-driven, personal relationship with Him, don't try to make it anything less.

 

Go back and do the things you did before. It will empower you to move forward. God is with you, take your shoes off, acknowledge His presence as He leads you into the Promised Land.

 

 

MAKE SOME MONUMENTS
Joshua 4:1 - 7

 

God did not want Israel to miss the benefit of the promise while living in the Promised Land.

 

1. Make It a Point to Remember

 

In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' tell them… These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever." Joshua 4:6-7 NLT

 

The stones were a visual reminder of how God came through for them.

 

God doesn't want you to build monuments to your failures.

 

Give yourself visual reminders of God's work in your life. This will prepare you for the Promised Land.

 

2. Go Back To Square One.

 

Circumcision was part of God’s covenant with Abraham.

 

"True circumcision is not a cutting of the body but a change of heart produced by God's Spirit." (Romans 2:29 NLT)

Israel had abandoned the practice so God told them to re-establish it.

 

In the New Covenant, square one is a personal, faith-based, love-driven relationship with Jesus Christ.

 

"I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance ... Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first." (Revelation 2:2, 4-5)

 

 

3. Recognize How Sacred This Moment Is.

 

The commander of the LORD's army replied, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so. Joshua 5:15

 

Joshua didn't know how they would conquer Jericho any more than he knew how they would cross the Jordan River.

 

The past is past; your sins, your mistakes, your failures, your regrets are ancient history.

 

Going back to square one and doing the things you did before will empower you to move forward to the promises of tomorrow.