Washington Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

By Doug Bing, Washington Conference president

This week the nation honored the veterans of our nation, the men and women of our nation who fight for our freedoms.

Between Memorial Day (honoring those who died in service) and Veterans Day (honoring the service of all U.S. military veterans living and deceased), there is a photo that is often shared: a picture of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

This is a resting place for someone killed in battle who was unable to be identified. Great meaning and traditions surround the tomb. It is guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, no matter how hot or cold, no matter if it is raining or snowing. It is a place of honor for an unknown veteran and is a symbol for all the other unknown veterans of military service.

There’s something else about this tomb that is unknown: the names of those who stand guard at the tomb.

In 2 Corinthians 8, Paul speaks of sending Titus to another church. Interestingly enough, he also speaks of two others that he was sending as well. Verse 17 states that they are sending one that is “famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel.”

Yet this famous preacher is never named.

A bit later, Paul says they are also sending another person along “whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters but who is not more earnest.” 

Yet this earnest preacher is never named. And we still do not know today who these people were.

These are unknown soldiers in the army of God who at that time were well known but whose names were not listed in the scripture.  They were also veterans of the service for Jesus Christ the King.  They were ready to be sent even if their names were not listed in scripture.  They were veterans of God’s kingdom. 

Recently I read an article stating that there will most likely never be an unknown soldier killed in battle again.  The article stated that with the current DNA testing and all the science that we have these days that no matter what happened to a person in battle that most likely they could determine who they were. 

As you faithfully serve God each day, please take comfort in knowing that no matter what happens to you that God knows who you are.

You may not have a name listed somewhere in the pages of earth’s history, but you are known in the pages of heaven’s record books.  All God asks is for us to faithfully serve him as veterans in His service going where He wants us to go and doing what He wants us to do.