Stones. Shaped, cut, and formed rock. Rocks with a purpose. Scripture is filled with references to them. Recall the image of a firm foundation which, we are told, is preferable to a foundation built on sand. In Nehemiah, for example, stones are used to rebuild Jerusalem’s wall and in I Kings 6, we read that stones dressed in a quarry were used to build the temple. In other biblical accounts, stones are featured in the construction of altars and memorials.
Stones figure prominently in the account of Joshua 4. As the people cross the Jordan River into the promised land, they are instructed to send a representative from each tribe to get a stone from the riverbed. These 12 stones are then set up as a marker to prompt future generations to ask why they are there. And the answer? “So that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever” (Joshua 4:24).
America’s capital, Washington, D.C., is a place filled with piles of stones, many of which stand as memorials and markers. Recently I had the opportunity to visit this city with some Westminster Academy students. While I doubt any of the stones there were taken from the Jordan River, they tend to serve a purpose similar to those in the Old Testament; various memorials prompted students to ask, “What mean these stones?”
Our students weren’t alone in asking that question. It was on my mind as well, particularly as I walked alone through Arlington National Cemetery. It was a bright, sunny morning as I made my way up the hill to Arlington House and one of the best views in DC. About halfway, I had to stop. I was out of breath—not because of exertion but because of the weight of the site. There were gleaming white grave markers, perfectly aligned, as far as the eye could see. Looking around, the question seeped up from my soul … What mean these stones?
Arlington overwhelmingly whispers, “Duty, honor, sacrifice.” Pondering that, another question fought its way forward. It was a familiar one, like an old friend helping me make sense of my thoughts. A basic worldview question: “What is the nature of Man?”
Our culture is certainly confused about that question and its answer. God’s Word tells us that human beings are created image bearers, which endows them with dignity, creativity, and even great capacity; yet humanity is fallen, broken, and incapable of self-redemption. Even stating that basic description leaves much to unpack, but for the sake of this brief discourse, let’s focus on one aspect of human finitude as created beings—our collective tendency to forget.
