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Series Code: TIJ
Program Code: TIJ002113A
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00:26 Travel is one of our favorite activities.
00:29 People just love to travel, often to new and far away 00:33 places. And that means there's been a huge growth in air travel 00:37 in recent years. Every day on average, more than 00:41 10,000,000 people fly. That's getting up to four billion 00:45 passengers a year, equivalent to about half the world's 00:49 population. So, it's not surprising that travel and 00:54 tourism is one of the world's largest industries 00:57 it's worth about ten trillion dollars a year. 01:00 Yes, we humans love to travel, going here, going there, 01:08 going everywhere it seems. 01:10 We're a mobile lot, that's for sure. 01:13 People are truly going places aren't they. But where are we 01:19 really going as we speed from place to place at rates 01:23 inconceivable to people a hundred years ago. 01:26 Sure, we might know where we're going short term, 01:29 to work, to pick up the kids, to the gym, on an overseas 01:34 holiday but we're all on a far greater journey. 01:38 The journey of life and where on life's incredible journey 01:43 are we going long-term and I mean long-term. 01:47 Close to the heart of Washington DC, capital of United States 01:53 there's one special place, a sacred place where a lot 01:57 of people on their journey ended up. A place similar very 02:02 to where we're all going to end up as well. 02:04 So stay tuned because in this program called 02:09 "The Unknown Soldier Known But to God." 02:12 We're going to look at the question whether this really 02:15 needs to be our final stop. 02:41 For the first time in human history the earth population 02:46 is more urban than rural. For the first time ever 02:50 more than half of us on this planet are city dwellers. 02:53 More and more people are leaving the country side 02:57 and moving to the cities and cities are growing by 60 million 03:02 people a year. Over one million every week. 03:06 Yes, we love the cities, each one has its own character 03:11 and beauty, each one is unique. 03:13 Some cities have an amazing history, a long history, 03:18 and a very influential history as well. 03:20 Such as Rome, talk about a long and influential history, 03:25 it's believed that people were living in the area of Rome 03:29 1,000 B.C. Of course by the 1st century B.C., Rome had 03:36 become the most powerful empire of the ancient world, 03:38 first as a Republic and then after the Revolution 03:42 the Rome of the Seasons. When I think of Paris, 03:48 I often think of the famous Mod-mark district 03:51 I can imagine in my mind's eye some of its famous painters 03:55 Pablo Picasso, and Vincent Van Gough wandering its streets 04:00 but centuries ago Paris was the center of a pretty 04:04 formidable military power both in Europe and overseas. 04:08 All you have to do for instance is think of the armies 04:12 of Napoleon marching through Europe in the early 19th century 04:17 and putting fear and trepidation in the old monarchies. 04:21 Then not that far away and across from the English Channel 04:25 is London. Today we think of London as the center for banking 04:29 for commerce for tourism. But there has been a time 04:34 too, when the British empire was the most powerful military 04:39 political and economical force in the world 04:42 There was an old saying that captured the influence 04:45 an impressive size of the British Empire, it said: 04:49 "The sun never sets on the British Empire." 04:52 But now, I'm standing in another city, a city that had been 04:58 a swamp and would remain a swamp for 1,200 years after 05:03 the Caesar's had ruled the Ancient World from Rome. 05:05 I'm talking about Washington, D.C. the Federal Capital of the 05:11 United States of America. In contrast to other great cities 05:16 D.C. is stiff in his infancy. Jerusalem had been in ruins 05:21 for about 17 centuries before European started to settle 05:25 in this area. Paris had for centuries been a place of 05:29 culture, influence and power long before anybody 05:33 but native Indians lived here. 05:35 Fishing on the shore of the Potomac and hunting in the 05:38 local woods. Yes, in terms of sheer age Washington D.C. 05:44 no doubt is a young place, however, whatever it might be 05:49 lacking in age in history, it sure made up for in terms of 05:54 might, of power, of influence in the world today. 05:58 From this city has come a military might unlike anything 06:03 the world has ever seen. 06:05 Whether or not one likes American Politics, you can't downplay 06:10 or minimize the amazing influences this nation has had 06:14 especially militarily. Think about how different our world 06:18 would be, had the United States not entered into WWII. 06:22 Imagine the Nazis in Imperial Japan had won the war. 06:27 What a different world we would be living in today. 06:31 Yes, whatever everyone thinks about America, 06:35 American Politics, American Culture, American Economic 06:39 practices, there's no question that American influence 06:44 American military might, to a great degree, still 06:48 dominates the world in which we live. 06:55 All of this came with a price of course, a heavy price 06:59 the greatest price any nation pays and that is in the blood 07:03 of its own people and the blood of the soldiers, men, and women 07:07 who die in the service of their country. 07:10 Now this is Arlington National Cemetery located just over a bridge 07:15 outside of Washington D.C., in the town of Arlington, VA 07:19 it's the most famous cemetery in the world. What you see here 07:25 speaks for itself, gravestones, markers of the dead. 07:29 Many American heroes are buried here including over 400,000 07:35 military veterans and their families. 07:38 This is the only cemetery in where soldiers from every 07:42 American conflict are buried starting with the civil war. 07:46 For 150 years Arlington National Cemetery has commemorated 07:52 what is now called Memorial Day honoring the service and 07:57 sacrifice of the fallen and for the past sixty years 08:01 soldiers from the 3rd U.S. infantry regime, the old God. 08:05 had placed an American Flag at each headstone. 08:09 Look at the vast number of these tombstones, sobering isn't it? 08:14 To think that each one of these markers represent someone 08:19 a flesh and blood person just like you, just like me. 08:23 People who had hopes, dreams, plans, loved ones, desires, 08:29 ambitions just like you and I do now and yet here they are 08:34 and though we most likely wouldn't be buried here 08:38 our rent isn't going to be a whole lot different will it? 08:42 Something to think about, this for instance 08:46 is the final resting place of 21-year-old 08:49 Pvt. William Christman of the Union Army who had been 08:53 buried here in May 1864. He was the first American soldier 08:58 to be buried here at Arlington. Though Pvt. Christman is the 09:04 first one buried here, it's hard to know who the last one is 09:07 and that is because on an average at least 25 burials take place 09:13 here every day. Those eligible to be buried in Arlington 09:17 include active-duty military and retired reservists. 09:21 Recipients of the military's highest honors and former POWs. 09:26 The history of this cemetery gives us glimpses into 09:32 American history itself. This land once belonged to 09:36 George Washington Parke Custus, yes, as the name gives away 09:40 he was related to America's first president, 09:43 George Washington. Mr. George Washington Parke Custus was the 09:49 grandson of George Washington's wife Martha and the step-grandson 09:53 of the first president himself. Custis spent his life 09:58 commemorating his famous step-grandfather and he built 10:02 this mansion called Arlington House between 1802 and 1818 10:09 as a memorial to the 1st president. 10:12 It originally sat on 1,100 acres but now here is where things 10:19 get interesting. In 1857 Custis willed a house to his daughter 10:26 who had married a promising a young West Point trained officer 10:30 in the United States Army, his name was 2nd Lieutenant 10:35 Robert E Lee. Now if you know anything about the 10:40 American Civil War, you could see a problem here, 10:43 this Robert E Lee sided with the confederacy during the war. 10:48 In fact, he became the commander in the Confederate States Army, 10:54 and though Arlington House was in Virginia and Virginia 10:58 sided with the south. 11:00 It stood on a hill overlooking Washington D.C. below 11:04 and so no way was the union going to leave this crucial site 11:09 in southern hands and so once hostility started between 11:14 the Union and the Confederacy the Union quickly seized the 11:18 property, including this house. 11:20 The house of the man who would lead the Confederate army. 11:24 Though there would end out being legal battles over the 11:28 property for years to come, during the war three forts 11:33 were built here as a general defense of Washington D.C. 11:36 And then in 1863 the Federal Government established 11:41 on some of this land what it called Friedman's Village. 11:45 It was a small village created to assist slaves transitioning 11:50 to freedom. The village provided housing, education, employment 11:56 training and medical care to these freed slaves. 12:00 However, as the war progressed, and the number of dead outpaced 12:05 the burial capacity of Washington D.C. cemetery's, 12:08 two hundred acres of the estate were set aside as a military 12:12 burial ground and then on June 15, 1864 it was officially 12:18 designated as a National Cemetery, the one we see here 12:22 today. Though now, it has been expanded to 624 acres 12:28 of hallowed ground. 12:30 Among those buried here are people like Audie Murphy 12:34 America's most decorated hero of World War II and a popular 12:39 movie actor. America president John, F. Kennedy is buried here 12:43 with this eternal flame torch burning ever since 12:48 Jackie Kennedy, his widow is buried next to him 12:52 along with their two infant children. 12:54 Even the actor Lee Marvin made it to Arlington, Robert Peary 13:01 the first person to make it to the North Pole is interred here 13:05 in Arlington as well. Interestingly enough 13:09 the most famous tomb in Arlington is the 13:12 final resting place not of some celebrity like Lee Marvin, 13:16 or president like John F. Kennedy, but precisely 13:21 the opposite. It's the final resting place for those who 13:25 are not known at all, yes, the most famous tomb is 13:31 the tomb of the Unknown Soldier here at 13:34 Arlington National Cemetery. 13:36 You know it's bad enough to have to go to war 13:39 and then to get killed in that war but at least for the 13:43 sake of your family, you come home to a decent burial. 13:47 But what happens sometimes, is that soldiers are killed 13:52 and no one knows who or where they are. 13:55 So on March 4, 1921, the United States Congress approved the 14:01 burial of an unknown American soldier from World War I 14:05 in this newly created Sarcoughaus, since that time 14:10 the remains of unknown soldiers from World War II, Korea and 14:14 the Vietnam War have been placed here also. 14:17 The tomb of the Unknown Soldier is guarded right around 14:21 the clock, the ceremonial changing of the guard 14:25 takes place 24 hours a day, 365 days a year 14:30 and is taken place without interruption since 1937. 14:35 Rain, hail, snow, shine, hot, or cold, it doesn't matter, 14:41 these guards perform their duty, they stand guard. 14:50 All of the honor guard are volunteers, 14:52 they're part of the elite 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment 14:56 which is headquartered in Ft. Meyer, Virginia and is the 15:00 oldest Regiment in the United States, it goes back to 1784. 15:06 Those who volunteer must undergo some rigorous training 15:10 both mental and physical and they actually live in a barracks 15:14 under the tomb when on duty. It's considered one of the 15:18 highest honors in the military to have this position. 15:22 Besides meeting the physical requirements, 15:25 the prospective volunteers spend up to eight months 15:29 training. During training, they don't watch TV, drink alcohol, 15:35 joke with others, talk to the public, or even talk with 15:39 other guards unless they have a question about training. 15:42 They are tested about knowing uniform requirements, 15:46 about knowledge about the tomb itself and they are tested on 15:50 performance. For instance if the uniform has any single 15:55 item 1/64 of an inch out of place, they face an infraction 16:00 and points are taken away. Of 100 points, if they get below 16:05 97, they don't make it. In the end 90% of those applying 16:11 for the position, don't make it. 16:13 Yes, if you visit the tomb and see what goes on here 16:18 you can get a great sense of the honor and dignity 16:22 and the seriousness of the whole thing. 16:24 The Americans truly want to honor those unknown soldiers. 16:30 In fact, look at these words inscribed on the Tomb of the 16:34 Unknown Soldier. I think the message is powerful, It reads: 16:45 That's sobering, isn't it? Known but to God. 16:50 In other words, we might not know who these dead soldiers 16:54 are, but God knows. And implication being, God knows 16:59 and God not only knows who they are but God has not 17:03 forgotten them either. As I said, there are over four hundred 17:10 thousand people buried here. Now that seems like a lot 17:14 and it is I know. But that is just a tiny fraction of the 17:18 world's dead isn't it? We look at all these 17:22 grave markers and yes, it's moving. But how many millions 17:27 even billions of people have come and gone 17:30 and will have no marker, no memorial and no memory of them 17:35 remains whatsoever. 17:37 Have you ever visited the ruins of an ancient culture? 17:41 It doesn't matter where what about the vast masses 17:44 who at one time lived there? These were people just like you 17:48 and just like me. People who got up every day, went to work 17:52 stressed about their kids, argued with their spouse, 17:56 fretted about money. People who had goals, dreams, emotions 18:01 fears, hopes for the future. Regrets about the past 18:05 people have felt love, guilt, fear, anger, joy, sadness, 18:12 just like the rest of us. Whole civilizations once thrived 18:17 in these places and what every one of these people are gone 18:23 without a trace left. Makes it all look, well so fruitless and 18:30 meaningless doesn't it? 18:32 In the past 150 years science and technology have amazingly 18:38 improved our lives haven't they? But at the same time too 18:42 if you believe what some scientists teach today, 18:45 we are nearly the chance products of cold uncaring forces 18:51 in a cosmos that doesn't care at all about us. 18:55 In an often-quoted sentence from his book: "The First Three 19:00 Minutes". Nobel prize-winning physicist Steven Weinberg 19:04 wrote: 19:13 Pointless and if the whole universe is pointless, 19:17 where does that leave us? Beings who are infinitely small and 19:22 fleeting amid this vast universe. 19:25 After Weinberg quoted got out it caused quite a stir 19:29 however Harvard Astronomer Margaret Galla didn't know 19:33 what the fuss was all about, this is what she said. 19:47 Just a physical system, Is that all that the universe is? 19:51 Is that all you and I are? 19:53 Just physical systems, now yes we are physical systems 19:59 but is that all we are? 20:01 Well, I'm willing to venture, I'm willing to guess 20:05 that most of us sense, most of us really know deep down 20:09 that we are much more than just that. 20:13 We know that our lives mean something, we know that we are 20:18 here for a reason? Even if we are not sure what that reason is 20:22 There's meaning and purposed in our lives. 20:24 I want to read you something that Jesus of the Bible said: 20:28 It's found in Matthew 10: 29-31. 20:52 Now that's an amazing few lines if you really think about them. 20:57 What Jesus is saying is that even something like the 21:01 sparrows sold very cheaply in the ancient world, 21:05 unknown by God and so what about us as human beings? 21:10 How are we viewed by God? Well according to Jesus 21:14 God knows each one of us so well that He even knows 21:19 the number hairs on our heads. What a different view of reality 21:24 being presented by Jesus in contrast to what modern science 21:27 often tells us. Look at how positive these following 21:31 sentences by Jesus are, found in John 3:17. 21:46 In other words, according to the Bible, Jesus Christ came to 21:50 this world not to condemn us for our mistakes and evil deeds, 21:55 which are many. No, He came to save us and if you put these 21:59 texts together, what are they saying? 22:02 Well, I believe that Jesus is saying that He has not forgotten 22:07 the millions even the billions of dead who have come and gone 22:12 through the ages. He knew the number of hairs on their 22:15 heads and so these people are not forgotten by God either. 22:20 Jesus came to bring the promise of life, eternal life 22:25 to all who would accept it. Even if for now many are dead 22:30 and forgotten by everyone else. What does the tomb say? 22:34 Known but to God. Yes, we might not know their names any more 22:41 than we know the names of millions even billions who have 22:44 come before us. And perhaps one day too we might not 22:49 only be dead, but over time we might be forgotten by 22:53 everyone else as well. But friend, I can assure you 22:58 that you are not forgotten. You are not forgotten by Him. 23:02 So, wherever you are on your life's journey, 23:06 you can know that you are known by God and loved by God. 23:10 He knows your struggles too. If he knows the number of hairs 23:15 on your head, he know what you are going through right now 23:19 and He cares and He's there to help you, to give you strength 23:24 for the journey. You mean a lot to Him in fact, you mean 23:29 everything to Him and He wants to spend forever with you. 23:35 The God who knows the number of hairs on your head... 23:38 this God 2,000 years ago paid the penalty for your mistakes 23:44 He died for you on the cross and from that death 23:49 He offers you the promise of eternal life. 23:53 No friend, the grave does not have to be the final 23:57 resting place for us. That's not God's plan for us. 24:01 His plan is eternal life with Him, the God who knows 24:06 the number of hairs on your head. Please, right now is the 24:11 time to claim for yourself what Jesus has done for you. 24:15 which is give you eternal life, That's His promise. 24:20 Why not reach out and accept His gift right now as we pray. 24:27 Dear Heavenly Father, Yes, for now the grave is where 24:33 we end our journey, but thanks to Jesus, that grave can be 24:38 only a rest stop, a temporary respite before the coming of 24:42 eternal life. Thank you for that offer to each of us 24:48 no matter how many our past mistakes, what's crucial is the 24:54 choice we make even now, for you. And so now we accept Jesus 24:59 and the gift of eternal life that you offer us. 25:02 In Jesus name, we pray. Amen! 25:11 America's capital, Washington D.C. teams with 25:15 iconic monuments, vast museums, and the corridors of power. 25:20 It's all about power, history and culture. It's also home to 25:26 one of America's most famous cemetery's, 25:29 the Arlington National Cemetery. Four hundred thousand military 25:34 veterans and their families are buried here. 25:37 The most famous tomb of all is that of the Unknown Soldier 25:41 nobody knows this soldier's identity, nobody that is 25:47 but God. It's a reminder that God knows each of us 25:52 and loves us. Now sometimes we can feel overwhelmed by the 25:56 challenges and struggles of life and feel the nobody knows 26:00 or cares but God does and He wants to help. 26:04 If you are looking for hope and ways to live a better life, 26:08 and find inner-peace and through happiness, if you'd like to get 26:12 closer to God then I'd like to recommend a free gift we have 26:17 for all our viewers today. It's the book "How the War Ends" 26:23 This book is our gift to you and it is absolutely FREE! 26:26 There are no costs or obligations whatsoever. 26:30 So make the most of this wonderful opportunity to receive 26:34 the gift we have for you today. 26:36 Here is the information you need: 26:39 Phone or text us at 0436333555 in Australia 26:46 or 0204222042 in New Zealand. 26:51 Or visit our website www.tij.tv to request todays free offer 26:59 and we'll send it to you totally Free of charge and with no 27:02 obligation. Write to us at P.O. Box 5101, Dora Creek, NSW 2264 27:10 Australia, or P.O. Box 76673, Manukau, Auckland 2241, 27:17 New Zealand. Don't delay, call or text us now. 27:20 If you've enjoyed today's journey to Washington D.C. 27:25 and our reflections on Arlington Cemetery and the 27:28 Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Known But Unto God, 27:31 then be sure to join us again next week when we will share 27:35 another of life's journey's together. Until then, 27:38 remember the ultimate destination in life's journey. 27:42 Now I saw and new heaven and a new earth and God will wipe away 27:46 every tear from their eyes. There shall be no more death 27:50 nor sorrow, nor crying, there shall be no more pain 27:53 for the former things have passed away. |
Revised 2021-04-08