The Tale of Two Rocks

“that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel”

1 Samuel 17:46b

When you are gone, what will people remember about you?  What will be your legacy?  What will be the central theme and message of your life?  What will they put on your tombstone?  I think about that every time I visit a cemetery.   The older the tombstone, the more likely it is that there is almost no one left who remembers the person buried here.  So when I am gone – will anyone remember me?  Or more importantly, if they do remember me, what will they remember?

That’s why I brought these two rocks with me today.  I picked them up when I was in Israel a few years ago.  This first one is a piece of marble I found washed up on the beach at Caesarea Maritima.  Caesarea Maritima is the ancient man-made port constructed by one of the greatest builders Israel has ever known – King Herod the Great.  Herod built all sorts of amazing palaces and fortresses around Israel.  He built the temple in Jerusalem, the one that existed in Jesus’ day.  He built a man-made mountain with a palace on top, just outside of Bethlehem.  It was called the Herodium.   This is most likely where John the Baptist was imprisoned and beheaded.  Herod the Great built Masada – a virtually unreachable and impenetrable fortress on a high plateau near the Dead Sea.  Herod’s construction projects were enormous.  His palaces and fortresses dwarfed those of the Caesars.

Why did Herod do all this?  Well basically he was out to make a name for him.  He wanted people to know that there had been a Herod and that he was amazing. 

Then there is this rock.  You will notice that I have it wrapped in a sling shot.  I picked up this round rock in a creek in the Valley of Ellah.  The Valley of Ellah is where young David picked up five smooth stones like this one.  Then he took those stones out to face, and kill the giant Goliath.  Why did David do this?  He gave the reason in 1 Samuel 17. He didn’t go out to make a name of himself.  David went out to face Goliath “that all the world may know that there is a God in Israel.”  He went out so that the name and reputation of His God might be exalted, that people throughout the world might know of Him.

Now I want you to think about these two men.  I have this piece of marble because all of Herod’s great palaces are now ancient ruins.  What do most people remember or know about Herod?  Most only know that he had a few baby’s killed in Bethlehem.  Otherwise he is largely forgotten.  But David?  Still today people tell and teach the story of little David who only went out with five small stones like this one and slew the giant Goliath.    We tell and retell David’s story, marveling at the great power of God.  After all David could never have done this on his own.  It was God working through him that brought Goliath down.

I keep these two stones on my desk and I share them with you today as a reminder.  If I make my life all about wanting people to know and remember me, then it won’t be very long and my legacy will be the same as those names on a tombstone – No one will remember me.   But if your life or mine is about letting people know about Jesus, it won’t really matter that they remember us.  For knowing and believing in Jesus people will know the good news that God loves them so much He gave His Only Son so that they might have everlasting life.  Then they can take that good news and share Jesus with others – passing on a legacy that will impact generations to come… an eternal legacy.

You know maybe I should ask my kids to leave my name off my tombstone.  Just write these words there – “The fellow buried here just wants you to know that God loves you so much He gave His Son Jesus to die for you and rise again, that you might have eternal life.”    That’s something worth remembering for all eternity.