WMA: He’s Been Here Before

      On my window ledge, I have a souvenir from a trip to Canada. The small figurine of a balanced rock formation common to northern Canada is called an inukshuk. For centuries, natives used the inukshuk as landmarks for navigating the wilderness. Hunters would mark places for travelers to find shelter, water or game. Tribes would mark migration routes. Families would mark areas of sacred ground, much like we leave headstones in a cemetery.

      The word inukshuk is translated as “in the image of man,” and the foundational stones resemble legs, flat rocks stacked on top make up the torso, with longer flat stones jutting out from the side like outstretched arms, topped with another stone for the head. Some inukshuks, still standing after hundreds of years, are 7-12 feet tall!

      If you were out in the wilderness and saw an inukshuk, you would know you are not alone in your wandering. Someone has been there before, giving you hope you can also survive the journey.

      The moment Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden tree, they began a life apart from God and on their own outside of Eden. Since that day, mankind has traveled in his or her own kind of wilderness. God knew you and I needed to find some kind of hope, so He became inukshuk — in the image of a man — and walked the path that every person must follow.

         “…and coming in the likeness of men… He humbled himself and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:7-8).

      Jesus conquered death so that, if you accept His substitution, you won’t have to pay the price for sin. He not only provided the way for you to have eternal life, He also spent some time walking among men. So, no matter what you face, you can see the inukshuk — the evidence that He has been where you are, and you can receive hope! We can boldly go on with our journey because Jesus marked the path. The shape of the inukshuk is meant to resemble a man standing with arms outstretched or perhaps they might look like the beams of a cross. Either way, the message is the same — Jesus did this for you.

         “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15).

      My legacy may falter and the stones I try to leave behind as a guidepost for future generations might crumble and fall, but the pathway Jesus left for us is solid and immovable. When you keep your eyes on Him, you cannot be led astray.

         Scripture — II Cor. 4:1-7

         Response — Consider the places on your life’s path where you would place a marker for those who would be watching your journey. Where would you want them to look to find refuge, nourishment, safety, etc. in their own journey? Are you clearly marking the way? Determine today to craft a tangible marker for someone. Once that marker is set and recognizable, set another one! Don’t stop until all those in your sphere of influence know to look for them!

         Prayer — “Father, thank you for sending Jesus to mark the way for me to take. Thank you for making the path visible to me through the power of the Holy Spirit. Please Father, help me know where, when and how to place the marker for my children, my grandchildren, my students and my fellow disciples to find their own way to You. In the precious name of Jesus, Amen.”

         — These articles are shared via the National WMA web page blog that can be accessed at nationalwma.org/blogs.