Building Memorial Stones: Living a Life That Points Others to God

Building Memorial Stones: Living a Life That Points Others to God

Have you ever walked past something so ordinary that it sparked an extraordinary conversation? A pile of river stones. A worn Bible on a coffee table. A cross hanging on a wall. These simple objects have the power to open doors to life-changing discussions about faith, redemption, and the goodness of God.

The story of Joshua and the twelve memorial stones offers us a profound blueprint for living a life that testifies to God's faithfulness—not just for ourselves, but for generations to come.
Stones From the Riverbed
After the Israelites miraculously crossed the Jordan River on dry ground, God gave Joshua specific instructions: take twelve stones from the riverbed and create a memorial. These weren't decorative stones or precious gems—they were ordinary river rocks, smoothed by water and time. Yet they carried an extraordinary purpose.

"What do these stones mean to you?" That was the question God anticipated children would ask when they saw this unusual monument. And in that question lies a powerful principle: our lives should be lived in such a way that others become curious about our God.
Remembering What God Has Done
The first purpose of these memorial stones was to help God's people remember His faithfulness in their past. How easy it is to forget! We experience God's provision, His protection, His miraculous intervention—and then life moves forward, circumstances change, and the memory fades like morning mist.

The stones served as a permanent reminder: "Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land." Past tense. Accomplished. Done. God had proven Himself faithful.
What are the memorial stones in your spiritual journey? Can you point to moments when God clearly intervened, provided, protected, or transformed? The day you encountered Jesus and everything changed? The impossible prayer that was answered? The marriage that was restored? The addiction that was broken?

One of the greatest sins we can commit is forgetting how faithful God has been. We need Ebenezer moments—places where we can say with confidence, "Thus far the Lord has helped us." And if He's helped us this far, He'll help us the rest of the way.
Realizing God's Present Power
But these memorial stones weren't just about yesterday's miracles. Notice the shift in Joshua 4:23-24: "For the Lord YOUR God dried up the waters before YOU until YOU had crossed over." The story wasn't locked in the past—it was alive in the present for the next generation.

God isn't just the God of our grandparents' faith stories. He isn't confined to biblical history or the testimonies of previous generations. He is the God of the here and now, actively working in our lives today.

This is why we must tell our stories. Faith must be taught, told, and transferred. If we don't share what God has done in our history, the next generation will never know. They need to hear how God saved us—and sometimes they need to hear what God saved us from. Our scars can help others understand that we haven't always had it together, that we were once lost and now we're found.
Creating Curiosity
What physical reminders exist in your life that might cause someone to ask, "Why do you do that?" or "What does that mean to you?"

Consider the simple act of praying before a meal in a restaurant. To you, it's an expression of gratitude. To the watching world, it's a curiosity that opens the door for testimony. A Bible on your desk at work. A cross in your home. Scripture verses on your walls. These aren't just decorations—they're conversation starters, opportunities to share the goodness of God.

When we live differently, people notice. When we respond to difficulty with peace, when we forgive the unforgivable, when we choose integrity over convenience, when we prioritize church and community over personal comfort—people wonder why. And in that wonder, we find our opportunity.
Reaching Beyond Ourselves
The third purpose of the memorial stones reaches far beyond personal remembrance: "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 4:24).

God's heart has always been global. His faithfulness to Israel wasn't just for Israel's benefit—it was a testimony to the watching world. Similarly, God blesses us not just for our own sake, but so we might bless others. He comforts us so we might comfort others with the same comfort we've received.

We've been brought through our own Red Sea moments, washed in the blood of the Redeemer, filled with His Spirit, given His Word. Why? So that the world may see the grace, power, and mercy of Almighty God through our lives.

There are people in your sphere of influence who haven't yet heard the gospel. Lost coworkers, neighbors, family members, classmates. May our lives be such a testimony—in our behavior, our words, our conduct—that creates curiosity in the hearts of those who don't yet know Jesus.
The Ultimate Memorial
Israel had memorial stones, but we have something even more powerful: an empty tomb. We have the cross. We have the Lord's Supper. These aren't just historical events—they're living testimonies to God's redemptive power.
Every time we gather to remember Christ's sacrifice, we're building memorial stones. Every time we share our testimony, we're stacking river rocks. Every time we live differently because of Jesus, we're creating monuments that point others to the God who saves.

Your Living Memorial
So what memorial stones will you build this year? How will you live in a way that causes others to ask questions? Who will you invite into your story? Who will you care for in Jesus' name?

The reality is simple: you didn't get where you are by yourself. Like a turtle on a fence post, someone—or rather, Someone—put you there. God's grace brought you through. His faithfulness sustained you. His mercy saved you.

Now it's your turn to be the memorial stone. Your life, your testimony, your changed heart—these are the monuments that will cause the next generation to ask, "What does this mean?" And when they ask, you'll have the privilege of telling them about the God who parts rivers, who saves souls, who transforms lives, and who remains faithful forever.

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so. Tell the old, old story. Build your memorial stones. And watch as God uses your testimony to reach people you never imagined—for generations you may never meet.