I woke this morning to see what was happening on Memorial Day; the annual ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington DC. It was an impressive picture of military people in dress uniforms at ridged attention waiting for the Commander in Chief to arrive. After a long wait he did. The President, Vice President and Secretary of Defense took their places in somber fashion nearest the gleaming white tomb. President Trump seemed to be praying silently, then he stepped forward to the large wreath next to the crypt, looked mournfully at it and reached out to touch it. Soon he stepped back in line with his entourage and all of them bowed their heads. What a sober reminder of war, death and the roughly one million Americans who have died defending our country. My eyes teared up thinking of our own loss and how God worked so wonderfully through Gabe’s ultimate sacrifice.
This place was familiar to me and it brought back memories of visiting this tomb when I was nine years old. My parents and I had come to visit my aunt and uncle who lived here. Uncle Bill, an officer in the Marine Corp, was stationed at the Pentagon at the time so we got a tour of the place, the various memorials around Washington, the Capitol, the White House, and this Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The changing of the guard was fascinating to this young farm boy as I took it all in. What did this mean and why do they do this every hour? I would visit this place several more times in the years ahead as a young man and later in the military myself. Not far from here my Uncle Bill, in dress uniform, would hand me my commission as a young officer in the Coast Guard. I was proud to have him do that knowing the wars he had fought in. It all made more sense now.
As I quietly watched the ceremony this morning I was reminded of the inscription on the crypt which said, “HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY AN AMERICAN SOLDIER KNOWN BUT TO GOD.” God does know every name. It is a reminder of the stark reality of war and death in this world that continues to be cursed by the fall of man in the Garden. When will it all end? I do not know but I do know we are called to pray for it to end. It will, since it is a promise from God; so pray!
Thank God for the part America has played in liberating captives, pushing back evil, and defending our own shores. That is only because of our Christian worldview. We need to continue to pray we will remain spiritually strong because that is why God has blessed America so uniquely.
Christians know this world of war, death, and disease will end eventually. The Scriptures speaks of this. “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.” (Rev. 19:11-14; cf.Mat. 26:53)
Pastor Mark
Pray with us for America on Sunday evening May 31st from 6-7 p.m. Watch our website for details on location.
