Arlington National Cemetery, located in Arlington, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from Washington D.C., covers 420 acres on the former estate of Genesis Robert E. Lee (and of the Custis family, descendants of Mrs. George Washington). More than 250,000 American heroes lie buried in these grounds, many of their graves marked with a simple white stone.

Atop a hill overlooking Washington D.C. stands The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, also known as "The Tomb of the Unknowns." It is one of the most visited sites in Arlington National Cemetery. Carved from Yule Marble quarried in Colorado, it consists of seven pieces, with a total weight of 79 tons. The Tomb was completed and opened to the public on April 9, 1932.

The figures and carvings on the Tomb have a great deal of meaning. The east side of the Tomb facing towards Washington D.C. contains a scene depicting the figures of Peace holding a dove, Victory holding a palm branch, and Valor holding a sword—Peace through Victory by Valor. On the north and south faces of the Tomb there are a total of six wreaths representing the six major campaigns of World War I, and on the west side an inscription reads, "Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God."

Buried at the tomb were the remains of four servicemen, representing those who fell in the four major U.S. conflicts of the twentieth century—World War I, World War II, the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam Conflict. With today's advancements in technology which enable the Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii to identify remains of American servicemen from evidence as minute as a tooth fragment, the remains of the Vietnam Conflict "unknown" were positively identified and returned to his hometown for burial in July of 1998. This crypt will remain empty until a decision as to its disposition is made.

The Tomb is guarded twenty-four hours every day of the year by members of the Third United States Infantry, "The Old Guard." To qualify as a sentinel, one must meet strict requirements and undergo intense testing and training. Impeccable in their dress and demeanor, they carry out their demanding vigil with great respect and dignity. It is considered a high honor to protect the Tomb of the Unknowns. As one Tomb Guard put it, "There is no greater honor, and I can't think of anything else I would rather do for my country than to guard the Unknowns." While guarding, the sentinels are under complete concentration, marching twenty-one steps, turning to face the tomb for twenty-one seconds, turning to walk twenty-one steps back down the 63 foot black mat which is replaced every Memorial Day. The twenty-one steps and twenty-one seconds are meant to reflect the highest military tribute, the twenty-one gun salute.

It is very true, as the inscription says, that God knows who the "Unknowns" are, for He knows all men (John 2:24) and all things (John 16:30). As Creator, He has given "to all life and breath" (Acts 17:25). He even knows the hearts of all men (1 Kings 8:39) for, "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do" (Hebrews 4:13).

When God looks on the hearts of men, he sees either an evil heart of sin (Jeremiah 17:9,10), or a heart cleansed and made "white as snow" (Isaiah 1:18) by the blood of Jesus Christ shed on Calvary's cross. Though He died, Christ is not now in a tomb, for He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3,4), and is a living Saviour. Friend, your heart can only be cleansed in God's sight when the blood of Christ is applied by faith in Him as your personal Saviour (1 John 1:7; Psalm 51:7).

All who believe on Christ as Saviour are known to Him in a far greater way than merely by creation, for Jesus says, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish" (John 10:27,28). The believer is known as one of His own sheep, as a child of God in eternal relationship with Himself (John 1:12,13). How blessed that in new birth, in new creation, "The Lord knoweth them that are His" (2 Timothy 2:19, John 10:3).

How tragic for any who are unknown to Him by the absence of an eternal relationship forged by the blood of Christ, for they will receive the wages of their sins, which is death, eternal separation from God. The day is coming, perhaps sooner than we think, "When once the Master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord open unto us; and He shall answer and say unto you, I know you not … depart from Me, all ye workers of iniquity" (Luke 13:25-27).

God's grace does have a limit. When the Lord raptures those "known" to Him to be forever with Himself in heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17), the door of salvation will then be shut (Matthew 25:10-12). All who have not put their trust in the Good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep will hear those fateful words from His mouth, "I know you not," and will be forever unknown to God!

While the door of grace is still open, make sure you are known to God in salvation. Then your name will be inscribed in the Lamb's book of life (Revelation 21:27), and He will call you to Himself at His coming (John 14:1-6; Revelation 4:1).