It is Presidents' Day, honoring all persons who served in the office of president of the United States and a federal holiday specifically honoring George Washington, our first president, born February 22, 1732, who led the Continental Army to victory in the American Revolutionary War.
As a young boy, Washington lived on a farm in Virginia. A story often told about George was when he was six years old, he received a hatchet as a gift, after which he cut down his father’s favorite cherry tree. Understandably angry, his father confronted him, asking if he had cut down the tree, to which little George replied, “Yes, I cannot lie. I did it.” And with those brave words, his father’s anger melted away and he embraced his son, exclaiming that his honesty was worth more than a thousand trees!
God’s Word tells us repeatedly about the importance of truth. In fact, His Word IS truth. Jesus said in John 17:19, “And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.” The word ‘sanctify’ means ‘to cleanse, purify or make holy’. Man is born into sin but through Jesus and God’s Word we can be sanctified!
Proverbs 6:16-19 – “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”
Proverbs 12:22 says, “Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.” Jesus is the truth. The world is full of liars. God hates liars! The lake of fire is waiting for liars who have not been sanctified by the blood of Jesus.
Though an imperfect human, George Washington was deemed honorable enough to be the first person elected to hold the highest office in our land. I’ll bet in large part it was because he was known for being truthful. Would to God that was a virtue still exhibited by our politicians of today!
Artist/Writer: Dylan Woodward
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