In Arlington National Cemetery is a tomb that demands our respect beyond all others. No one knows who is buried inside, yet it is patrolled around the clock, 365 days a year.
It is the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
One of the greatest honors in the United States Army is to take those 21 steps, face the tomb for 21 seconds, and then retrace those 21 steps, only to start over once again. To earn the right to guard this solemn memorial, a soldier must be exemplary in every facet of his life, with no mark against his record.
In addition, the soldier who wishes to qualify for membership in this honorable guard must endeavor to be spotless in presentation. His shoes must be shined to perfection. Every loose thread must be clipped from his uniform. Even his hat must rest at an exact angle.
As Christians, we too have a tomb to honor. How can we show that we are fit to honor the empty tomb in which Jesus laid all those many centuries ago, especially when we come from situations that mark us with scars and labels from which we cannot escape?
In Job 31:1-12, Job faced his accusers. His life had blistered him. His family was dead. Even his wife encouraged him to curse God and die. However, Job had a uniform he could put on, one with shoes shined to excellence, with not a thread out of place, and a hat that screamed perfection. It was his blamelessness before God.
Job lists his upright ways before the Lord:
Way #1: He has lusted after no one.
Way #2: Nor has he taken another man’s woman for his own.
Way #3: He has never been proud.
Way #4: Nor has he lied to further his welfare.
Job even offers to accept any punishment God wants to mete out if every word he says is not true.
The soldier who patrols the tomb of the Unknown Soldier must be perfect in every way, whether beneath the blistering sun or in the driving rain, just as Job was perfect in every way before his accusers, even as he sat in the ashes of his former life, brought low by the circumstances of life.
When we take our 21 steps to offer honor before our Lord’s empty tomb, how can we stand spotless and perfect? By the cleansing blood of Jesus. All we have to do is ask him to come into our heart, and all our imperfections are washed away.
When we stand with Jesus, his perfection covers all the mistakes we have ever made.
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