On the island of Labuan off the coast of Borneo in Malaysia is a well-kept War Memorial Cemetery. Several thousand headstones lie in long rows, each having a bronze plaque with raised letters. They commemorate the Australian and New Zealand soldiers and officers who died taking the island of Borneo from the Japanese in 1945.
Most of the plaques give the name, rank, age and unit of the army of the man buried there with the date of his death. Many have nice sayings and sentiments on them. As we walked up and down the rows, we looked for any that gave evidence of faith in Christ. On one we saw, “Resting on his Savior’s breast.” Still another had this quotation: “Even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him” (1 Thess. 4:1414For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (1 Thessalonians 4:14)).
On quite a number of the plaques was the simple statement, “Soldier of the 1939-1945 war,” with no name or dates. At the bottom of the plate were three words:
“KNOWN UNTO GOD”
No one knows the name of these men buried at the War Memorial Cemetery, but God knows not only the name of the deceased but everything about them.
The Word of God declares, “O Lord, Thou hast searched me, and known me....Thou understandest my thought afar off...and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, Thou knowest it altogether” (Psa. 139:1-41<<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.>> O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 3Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 4For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. (Psalm 139:1‑4)).
God knows all about every person who ever lived in this world. He knows everything you have ever done, said or thought. It is “known unto God.” As you realize this, it is scary-that is, unless you have put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Then you are glad that He knows all about you because your sins were laid on Him. Of the believer it is said that “the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:66All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)).
God is light, and He will have no sin in His presence. But, also, God is love. He cares about you so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for you. His blood will wash away every sin you have ever committed, the moment you put your trust in Him. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from ALL sin” (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)).