The Ministry of the Unknown Soldier

 

Kelly P. Gallagher

 

 

At the grave of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, VA, the memory of "the unknown soldier" is continually honored by changing guards and an eternal flame.  There are many soldiers who have fought in the two World Wars, Korea, Vietnam and others who have died without anyone knowing who  he was.  This symbolic mass grave is our attempt to honor these men who bravely fought for this country and died. 

 

It is from this symbolic cemetery that I found a way to describe something that the Lord has been trying to work in me for many  years.  It is a calling of obscurity that includes a death of ambition and desire for glory among men.  It is a changed desire to seek the Lord with my whole heart for the hidden treasures of wisdom, knowledge and the joy of His presence.  God said to Abraham,

 

"After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I [am] thy shield, [and] thy exceeding great reward."  Genesis 15:1

 

This was spoken to Abraham ("Father of a multitude) while he was still called Abram ("high,  exalted father").  Name is the same as nature in the Bible.  God changed peoples names to indicate that their nature had been changed by God.  In Abram's case, it took many years.  Abraham was ninety-nine years old before God's work was advanced enough in this man to rename him.  Instead of being an "exalted father" - which I believe is a type of the empty honor of the world, Abraham is called the "father of a multitude."  When we search for our own glory, it is a false glory and not a true glory at all.  But, if we learn from Abraham's example - to make God our "exceedingly great reward" - then God can truly prosper us spiritually by much fruit and usefulness to God. 

 

Because God knows all things, there are no "unknown soldiers" to him.  But God sees the heart of man, and judges the heart, not the outward appearance.  A good example of this is the widow who gave two mites.  Jesus observed a poor widow woman give two mites (less than a penny) into the offering after many rich givers made a show out of their large endowments.  Jesus told the disciples  that in His judgment, the widow gave more than all the rich givers because they gave out of their abundance, while she gave all she had, even the money she would live on.  I believe that at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, when rewards and honors are given to those who have served Christ on earth, that there will be many surprises at the way God judges service done to Him. 

 

Many Christians who do not have a large, soul-winning church or para-church ministry feel that they are not great in God's eyes as the "heroes of the faith" that are well known.  A spirit of condemnation persecutes many Christians  for not doing mighty works as others have.  Much of this condemnation comes from the successful preachers and evangelists themselves who put down other Christians who have not done great things. 

 

This condemnation is not from God, but is a manifestation of the kingdom-building spirit that these men are under.  Jesus looks at the heart, and His judgment is not like our judgment.  Samuel was told by God to anoint a new king to replace the rebellious king Saul.  He was told to go to the house of Jesse from Bethlehem and anoint one of his sons as king.  The seven sons of Jesse were lined up in order of age and presented to Samuel. 

 

"And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD'S anointed [is] before him. But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.  I Samuel 16:6-7

 

Even Samuel, an anointed priest of God, discerned by outward appearance.  The son of Jesse that the Lord chose was just a young  boy they left to tend the sheep.  David's father Jesse and his brothers all assumed that he was not God's choice because he was so  young and  unimpressive.  Today, we have leaders that are chosen by man for leadership through financial support, large attendance at their churches and meetings, and because of outward images.  Good looks, eloquent speaking ability, charismatic personality or an authoritative "presence" have become the criteria for the selection of these men to become "kings" in the body of Christ.  The government of today's church is a leadership of popular, charismatic men. 

 

The Unknown Soldier Ministry is a ministry that I have named to represent the type of servants God is looking for today.  Like the servant of Abraham, never named in scripture, who was used greatly by God to find a wife for Abraham's son Isaac, we must be willing to be unknown.  Consider the faith of this unknown servant whom  Abraham trusted with so great a task.  He prayed that the wife that God had selected for Isaac would be the woman who, unasked, would not only offer to water this servant's camel, but the camel of all that were with him.  So it happened  just as this unknown servant prayed, Rebecca came to be Isaac's wife and was placed in the  lineage of Jesus Christ.  God took heed to this unknown servant's prayer and God takes heed to the prayers of those who have chosen to be unknown in this day of personality cults and pious pride.  Such men are going to be honored by God in  the form of God Himself becoming their reward, an exceedingly great reward.  Such men and women will be given the honor of seeing God work in their lives powerfully, being placed in truly important ministries, and experiencing the wisdom and knowledge that being in God's presence brings.

 

All the glory that has been amassed by men and women who have created great works and ministries in these last of days, will be a fading glory compared to the glory God will bestow upon the unknown soldiers that He is raising up.  As foretold in the Scriptures, the great movement of God's Spirit at the time of Christ's return to earth will be among unknown soldiers who suffer and work for God in chosen obscurity.  Like Jesus, our example, such people choose the path of humility and obscurity.  Jesus humbled Himself to be a servant, and so will the unknown soldiers.  Without the need for money and technology, these men and women will become the force that prepares the bride of Christ for His return, as Abraham's unknown servant found Rebecca for Isaac. 

 

Because of the false teaching and false Christianity that has been the by product of many famous ministries, the church is not prepared for Christ's return.  It is going to take a true movement of the Holy Spirit among men and women who have chosen to be unknown soldiers, to do the job that billions of dollars spent on buildings, television networks and ministries have not accomplished.  Jesus is going to be the only Star among these people; and because the glory will be His, He will bless this movement with great power.