Future Generations

Boone, NC was named after one of my favorite historical heroes, Daniel Boone. Daniel Boone was a brave frontiersman and trailblazer. In its original usage, a trailblazer was someone who marked a path so that others could follow. As a trailblazer, Boone helped mark passages throughout the eastern United States so that pioneers could safely travel westward.

The way that a trailblazer accomplishes this is by leaving markers along a path that connects one marker to the next until it ultimately led to a village or a town. These markers consisted of poles, painted trees or rocks, flags, carvings, or even large notches in trees. Each one lead to another marker and then another until the journey was complete. In thinking about this, it makes me ask the question, “What are we leaving behind for others to follow”?

In Joshua chapter 4, the Israelite priests have stepped into the flooded Jordan River and the LORD has cutoff the waters and caused it to go back upstream in one great wall and the nation of Israel has crossed on dry ground. Once everyone was across, Joshua gathered one man from each tribe to go into the now dry riverbed and each one take one large stone and place it on the Promised Land side where they would be setting up camp.
After this was done, Joshua told the people “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’ then you shall inform your children, saying, ‘Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed, just as the Lord your God had done to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed; that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, so that you may fear the Lord your God forever.” (Joshua 3:21-24).

This stack of stones was a spiritual marker for the nation of Israel. It helped them to remember what God had done but it was also a reminder to future generations of who the LORD is. Remembering what God has done in your past can you give you peace and confidence in your present circumstances. But equally important is that you communicate to others what God has done, especially the younger and future generations. That is why spiritual markers are important.

Spiritual markers can take many forms. They can be physical or verbal. It can be a picture or document or even an annual celebration. Anything can serve as a reminder that God has done something special at a time when you needed Him.

Spiritual markers are a way for us to preserve our faith so that those who follow us will look to God. When they reach a point of questioning what it will take to make it through difficult circumstances, they can look to God find the strength to carry on.

Have you considered the spiritual markers in your life? Why not create something special out of these special events and let others know about it. Like Daniel Boone, be a trailblazer and mark a trail of faith that will allow others to follow.

These are your Words for Wednesday.

I hope to see you this coming Sunday morning at Ballentine Elementary School at 10:45. Have a great rest of your week!

In Christ,
Kevin