Ancient Landmarks

Proverbs 22:28 reminds us “Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set.” In a day when so many of the ancient landmarks are being moved, this is a relevant admonition to all of us. Landmarks that were put in place by doctrinally sound, praying men and women of God, are now under scrutiny and derision by the masses. Even the most basic tenants of faith such as prayer and fasting, Bible reading and apostolic worship are not being pushed aside for a much simpler “walk of faith”.

Biblical principles of separation and holiness are maligned as being outdated and archaic. Landmarks are being moved, without any consideration as to why they were placed there and the Biblical knowledge and fear of God that moved holy men and women to place them there. How quickly and readily some are moving to depart from the “faith that was once delivered to the saints”!

In an amazing story, written by Jay Alabaster for the Associated Press, about the recent tsunamis that have devastated much of the northeast coast of Japan, those that chose to build their homes along the coast did so against the ancient warnings of their ancestors. Hundreds of large stone markers dot this area which contained a variety of warnings, the most central being “Do not build below this point, because of the dangers from tsunamis.

The actual story can be found at this link and it contains some amazing details about the wisdom of the residents of this area of Japan over the past 600 years - wisdom that was ignored.

Quoting from the article, one of these stones stated "Remember the calamity of the great tsunamis. Do not build any homes below this point." The problem was not that the people did not know about the warnings, they simply chose to ignore them. In another fascinating quote, a scholar who is deeply acquainted with the stones stated the following: "People had this crucial knowledge, but they were busy with their lives and jobs, and many forgot."

The residents of one community, Aneyoshi, were saved because they heeded the ancient warnings. One school aged child said this about the lessons that were inscribed in stone, “Everybody here knows about the markers. We studied them in school... When the tsunami came, my mom got me from school and then the whole village climbed to higher ground."

Others chose to ignore the warnings and as a result, tens of thousands died. Who knows how many would have been saved from death had they simply heeded the ancient warnings. Instead they put their faith in modernity and the wisdom of modern times. Sea walls, electronic surveillance and warning systems, and the speed of bullet trains and automobiles were deemed to be a worthy and trustworthy defense against the power of the sea. How foolhardy these people were.

Tragically, there is always a generation that arises that “knows better” than their forefathers. Yet that new generation did not experience what their fathers and grandfathers experienced and therefore did not understand the motivation for the landmark. Quoting again from the article, "It takes about three generations for people to forget. Those that experience the disaster themselves pass it to their children and their grandchildren, but then the memory fades"!!

As Christians, we need to be mindful of removing or worse, ignoring, the ancient landmarks that are in place to warn of of the dangers of worldly living. These are ancient landmarks that define the safety and security that can be found in living a Biblically sound life. May God help us to be vigilant and mindful of these ancient landmarks!

Jesus is coming soon, and our world will be struck with a powerful tsunami of carnality, worldliness and compromise. Sin and the spirit of anti-christ are already roaring across the world with unprecedented force. The wise man continues to build his house upon the rock, positioned well behind the boundaries marked by the ancient landmarks placed in the church by the Apostolic men of the New Testament that founded this church - as well as those that walked before us in godliness and in the fear of the Lord.

These ancient landmarks continue to stand - though ignored by many. We would do well to heed their warnings and counsel.