Joshua 4:9

And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.

When we visit a historic or golf course of note, it is a must we buy a t-shirt, hat, or ball marker from the clubhouse with the appropriate logo. I assume this is done for the purpose of provoking people to ask us about it whenever we wear the shirt or use the marker. We then are able to tell the story of the day we visited this famed course. While passing through the Jordan safely, the Lord instructed Joshua to choose one man from each of the twelve tribes. Each man was to lift one stone from its waters and carry it to the place where the priests carried the ark of the covenant allowing the Israelites to pass over without harm. Earlier in the chapter, Joshua tells the people these stones are to be sign for their future generations. When asked, they are to tell their children, “that the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.” Whenever God gives us victory, we should always carry with us a memorial to place as a marker commemorating success through His provision. Many times, the stone we leave behind is used as our testimony of faith for our children or grandchildren. There is a reason our family Bible has a place to make note of when we accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior. As the Bible is passed down, the notation is passed down. Sooner or later, the stone we carry must be placed down. When we are baptized, the church gives us a certificate. Many companies give its employees engraved watches after 30, 40, or even 50 years of service. These watches aren’t specifically used for timekeeping, but as a remembrance or to show appreciation of the employee‘s dedication. Even if we don’t have an actual stone, certificate, or watch to symbolize a personal victory, we carry with us the memory of God’s faithfulness for our safe passage. This memory is our testimony for others. When asked or confronted, we are able to share when and how God parted the waters for our safe passage. Our testimony of salvation is our greatest victory. The stone we place down for its memorial is a headstone signifying the death of the old man and the start of the journey for the new man. In a time when our society is attempting to destroy symbols of history, no one can take away the memorial of this spiritual victory! It is an eternal success written in the Lamb’s Book of Life!