One of the striking images of the post-World War II era is that of German chancellor Konrad Adenauer at America’s Arlington National Cemetery on his first visit to America less than 10 years after World War II.

In April 1953 an American military band played Germany’s national anthem and Adenauer laid a wreath at America’s tomb of the unknown soldier. The inscription on the marble sepulcher reads "Known only to God."

Throughout history, many soldiers have died in wars without their remains being identified. Following the First World War, a movement arose to commemorate these soldiers with a single tomb, containing the body of one such "unknown soldier." Today more than 25 nations have a memorial to an unknown soldier.

God knows the identity of all "unknown soldiers" and He will resurrect them when their time comes to make acquaintance with their Maker.

The Bible has a memorial to some heroes "known only to God." We find it in the faith chapter, Hebrews 11. After mentioning 16 people by name, the authors makes a general reference to many heroes of the faith:

"Who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented – of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth" (verses 33-38).

Their example should inspire us to continue our walk with God until the end: "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" (Hebrews 12:1).

Just like the unknown soldiers of the world, God also knows the identity of these unnamed heroes of the faith.

One day we will know their identity, too, because they will be made perfect with us at the first resurrection: "And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us" (Hebrews 11:39-40).

With these thoughts I wish us all a rewarding Sabbath!