Monument or Mausoleum

A few words to get started...

Have you ever (talk about making a list of things to do, living by a calendar, setting a reminder etc.

Today we are going to look at the difference between Monuments and Mausoleums. What I mean is this we are going to drill down on something that I mentioned last week. In the end it is my prayer that we can really examine our personal monuments, and our corporate monuments, and then have an honest conversation about what they are and what function they server in our lives.

Purpose

If we define the word monument well we come up with something interesting. Webster defines monument as it was used in the 13 century as coming from the Latin word monumentum literally memorial from monere which is to remind. Now that we have the origin of the word in our minds the practical definition for today is more what we are used.

A monument can be a burial vault, a written legal document or record, a lasting evidence or reminder, a memorial stone or building to remember a person or event, an identifying mark, a carved statue, a boundary or position marker. Recently we have seen a lot of argument over what constitutes another definition of monument when we look at national monuments, and finally a monument can be a written tribute.

Now that we have gone about as deep as I want to go into the English definition of monument lets look at some biblical examples of monuments.

Genesis 28:18–19 CSB

Early in the morning Jacob took the stone that was near his head and set it up as a marker. He poured oil on top of it and named the place Bethel, though previously the city was named Luz.

Brief explanation of the dream Jacob had

Genesis 35:14 CSB

Jacob set up a marker at the place where he had spoken to him—a stone marker. He poured a drink offering on it and poured oil on it.

Briefly explain the new name Jacob to Israel

Exodus 24:4 CSB

And Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. He rose early the next morning and set up an altar and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel at the base of the mountain.

Reminders. That’s what a monument is all about. That’s what it’s supposed to be for. To remind us of what went before, to help us understand how we got to the place we now are. No one ever camped out at the monuments that they put up. Jacob didn’t build his house where he had the dream of angels ascneding and decending, nor did he set up shop at the place that his name was changed. Moses didn’t keep the children of Israel at he base of the mountain where he set up the alter and the 12 pillars. They kept moving the monuments were there, they could be seen, they could remind those that saw them of what God did, they could help people who came later to understand who God is.

The giver of dreams, the changer of names, the one that calls people to freedom.

We even see God setting a monument in the sky in Genesis.

Genesis 9:13 CSB

I have placed my bow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.

So we know that monuments can be reminders. Reminders of the things that God gives, reminders of the things that God does. They can even be reminders of how not to act, what not to do what not to say, how not to act.

(lynching monument)

Monuments can be good things. We need them in our lives reminders of who we were, of where we came from, of the calling of God on our lives to live in such a way that people see the Love of Christ shining out in every aspect of who we are.

It is these reminders that form the foundation for what we do now.

(expound on the foundations of Faith: Everone is broken, everyone sins, etc then move into being called, it’s an olympic year Eric Liddle called by God)

I love so much of what he said but I want to bring out two quotes before we move on

The first is from Eric talking about his gifting but also his calling.

“I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast! And when I run I feel his pleasure.” ― Eric Liddell

I love this quote because there is a surety in the calling God has placed but also and embracing of the ability, the talent, and the realization that we can feel the pleasure of the Father as we move in the natural world with the abilities he has given us. (expound)

And then this.

“We are all missionaries. Wherever we go we either bring people nearer to Christ or we repel them from Christ.” ― Eric Liddell

(expound a bit about Eric being a missionary and his calling to that field but also the realization that he alone was not the only one called)

So the foundations of our faith are simple really. And if you and I claim to be followers of Christ it’s good to have some monuments in our lives. Places that remind us.

So what’s the problem?

Humans are the problem. More to the point, our ability to become content, used to what is, willing to just stop. We see it in the New Testament several times.

Matthew 17:4 CSB

Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it’s good for us to be here. If you want, I will set up three shelters here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

So Peter wants to stay on the mountain with Jesus and Moses and Elijah.

Later on we have Jesus and the disciples walking out of the temple.

Mark 13:1 CSB

As he was going out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look! What massive stones! What impressive buildings!”

And her is where we come to the problem. Monuments can easily turn to Mausoleum’s if we are not careful. What i mean is this.

(expound on the idea of how a monument becomes an idol how what we build somehow becomes more important than the reason that it was built etc.)

One of the best parables to show us what happens when we begin to think more of what we have made, what we have done, what we have accomplished than what God has done is found in Luke.

Luke 12:16–21 CSB

Then he told them a parable: “A rich man’s land was very productive. He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” ’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’ “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

This happens way to often. When we read this parable we find a man that was blessed by God. The land produced an amazing crop, the man had to work for that crop, he had to plant it, he had to water it, he had to tend it sure but he also had to have the rain and the sun and all the conditions that only God could give.

This happens way to often. When we read this parable we find a man that was blessed by God. The land produced an amazing crop, the man had to work for that crop, he had to plant it, he had to water it, he had to tend it sure but he also had to have the rain and the sun and all the conditions that only God could give, building bigger, better and more. Only to have it all taken away, not in some cataclysmic Job like tale, but in death. Leaving behind all that stuff . Jesus goes on to say what matters.

Be more worried about following Jesus, about storing up treasures in heaven, about living a life that uses the monuments as a foundation, instead of turning the monuments into the thing that matters the most.

Jesus makes it clear to the disciple that was so impressed by the temple and all the buildings around it. He explains that all these man made buildings will be destroyed.

Mark 13:2 CSB

Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another—all will be thrown down.”

Jesus didn’t say that the temple was bad, in fact he would go to the temple, he taught in the temple, he tossed tables over and was angry at the way people were using the temple for the wrong things. But he knew something that we tend to forget. The temple was a temporary structure, it was a place to remind men and women not to be worshiped by men and women. The temple was a place to gather, to worship, to minster to and to be ministered too. He also knew that there wold come a day when that temple was no longer going to be needed. When there would be no need for reminders of what God did for us, of how to worship and when to worship. No more need for sacrifices, and feasts and reminders. Liturgy would pass away, special garments would be gone. No more need for veils and special utencils and and and. There would come a day like he told the woman at the well where people would worship not in some temple, not on some mountain but they would worship in spirit and in truth in the presence of God.

So Now What

Now comes that hard part. Now comes that toe stepping part. Now we have to look at the monuments we have built in our lives and see if we have turned them into Mausoleums. Have they become the thing that we go to to talk about the good old days. Have we started to worship the thing we made instead of the reason we made it?

This Week’s Challenge

Make a list of what you need to feel close to God. What makes you feel like you’re connected to him. What makes you feel close to him.

Now read Matthew 22:37-40 and Phil 2:1-18

Now list what God says make you close to him. How do the lists match up?

(posible alter call to deal with the idols / mausoleums in our lives)