The Importance of Memorials Joshua 4:1-7 When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, 2 "Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, 3 and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan from right where the priests stood and to carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight." 4 So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, 5 and said to them, "Go over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, 6 to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' 7 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." NIV INTRODUCTION: Memorial Day was always one of my favorite days as a child growing up in Michigan. There were three reasons: the Memorial Day parade in my home town, the Simington family reunion, and the stock car races. Sometimes we attended all three events on Memorial Day. Later as a teenager I played in the Red Arrows marching band and marched in the parade playing the military tunes and standing still at the cemetery while the prayers were prayed, taps were played and the solemn address given. God wants us to remember some things too. That’s why he told Joshua to establish a memorial at the place of encampment after the Israelites miraculously crossed the Jordan River during the trek to the Promised Land. We are on our way to a Promised Land too and we need to remember some things along the way. I. First, we must remember the heroes of our country who died to keep us free. A. The pilgrims came to this country in search of freedom from an oppressive government, taxation without representation and a state run church. 1. Throughout the Bible from time to time God’s people were oppressed by cruel rulers and pagan nations. 2. Oppressive and unfair taxation has discouraged people throughout history. B. Government mandated religion has prohibited opposing views and freedom to worship according to ones own conscience and beliefs. C. Thousands of men and women have given their lives to preserve our way of life and freedoms. II. Secondly, we must remember the God-moments, the great events of our lives. A. Establish traditions to celebrate special events and milestones in your life. B. Scrapbooks and picture albums can keep the memory of special events with us. C. The gospel song, "Remind Me, Dear Lord" acknowledges the importance of these memorials. D. Memorials can honor special persons in our lives. E. What will the epitaph on your grave say? III. Memory brings heartaches as well as joys, but both can be helpful to us. A. The message in Revelation in the church at Ephesus has this admonition. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. (2:5) B. Remember your commitments made in desperation at an altar of prayer or on your back in the hospital room. C. Remember your conversion experience. D. Remember your consecration for service. E. Remember your heritage and live up to it. CONCLUSION: Memorials are important. I thank God for a Christian father and mother. My dad’s memorial roll certificate hangs beside my bed. I see it every night when I retire for the day. I am reminded of his commitment and sacrifice, of his steadfast Christian walk and consistent life. He never dropped out of church because he got his feelings hurt. He never quit because he didn’t like the preacher or because he didn’t get on the church board. Memorial Day has become more than a time to remember those who have died in service to their country. It is a time to remember all of our loved ones who are gone from us. We can see them again if we will keep our hand in the hand of the Man who stilled the waters. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb 12:1-2, NIV (Adapted from Brother Rash's Sermon, May 27, 2007 in Honor of Memorial Day)