Cairn-age: The god of this age

“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
— 2 Corinthians 4:4

What is the god of this age?

From generation to generation the god of this age has morphed from one thing to another. It sidetracks humanity from pursuing Christ by offering a poor substitute with the emotional appeal of fulfillment. It blinds people and hides their true identity, which can only be found in Christ, by offering up a socially acceptable temporal identity in the world in which they live.

A cairn is a human-made pile of stones. They are traditionally raised as boundary markers, for memorial markers or (in more modern applications) markers for people trekking through the wilderness to guide the way.

Cairns are featured in the Bible several times. Most notable is the cairn erected by Joshua at the command of the Lord after the children of Israel crossed the Jordan. Joshua commanded the tribes to each gather a stone from the river bed God had stopped from flowing and set them up in Gilgal. Joshua 4:21-22 tells us why, “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying ‘What are these stones?’ Then you shall let your children know saying, ‘Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land;…”

Today, cairns are appearing all over our National Parks much to the chagrin of the US National Park Service. Within the parks they are used to guide visitors along the trail. However, people are erecting unauthorized cairns. They are not being erected as memorials of a significant event, boundary markers or guide points for a trail. But as graffiti. They are efforts by visitors to make the statement, “I was here!”

The US National Park Service (USNPS) is warning people against this practice. It leads to “habitat destruction, soil erosion, and confusion for other hikers” who may rely on cairns for navigation. The USNPS is actively working to remove all unauthorized cairns to address the problem.

But what does this have to do with anything? Everything. Why are they being built? They are being built in a effort to establish a simple fact, “I was here.” They have been featured on social posts across platforms. It is an extension of the “selfie” world in which we live. They attempt to proclaim simply this spot matters because I was here.

The god of this age is self-promotion. We curate our image on social media and in life. We are addicted to “views”, “likes” and “comments". Our era has established personal experience as an idol of worship. I had a thought. I had this or that experience. I was here. I… I… I… and it is important because I was there.

We have greatly deviated from the usage of cairns in times past. Cairns that guided the way. Ones serving as memorials for God’s work on earth; crossing the Jordan, Jacob wrestling with God, alters to God, and many more. Cairns that established boundaries between the tribes of Israel. In other words, miraculous singular moments in history, or things that communicated a shared message for the benefit of all.

The question I am faced with today is simple. Are the cairns in my life (not literal, but figuratively) built to honor God and the work He is doing in my life? Or are they monuments to myself and my experiences?

It is vital we memorialize all that God has done. For those moments serve as guide posts to how He will work in our lives in the future. They serve as a witness to what is to come. As Hebrews 12:1-2 states, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,…”

Cairns become carnage (or cairn-age) when they point people to us instead of our Lord. May the memorials and markers we build and share guide people to Christ. He is the only ROCK worth worshiping in our lives. No others stack up. All others lead to destruction, erosion, and confusion.

The challenge for me today: what do people see when they look at the life I’ve stacked up? May it only point people to Christ! And if not, may it be knocked down and built again by Christ for His purpose.

© 2025 Warren Martin. All rights Reserved.