Bulletproof faith: How George Washington defied death and founded a nation.
Bulletproof Faith: How George Washington defied death and founded a nation.
President’s Day gives us a moment each year to honor the leadership and sacrifice of past leaders, like George Washington, who stood firm against enormous challenges. But what does it take to stand up to such adversity? For Washington, it meant surviving multiple assassination attempts, three wars and countless personal tragedies.
Deeply rooted in his faith in Christ, Washington was able to overcome these adversities and help free the United States of America from British Tyranny. On President’s Day we are reminded that when we are deeply, and firmly rooted in Christ and the power of the Gospel, we can overcome even the most extreme challenges.
Twenty years before Washington’s greatest triumph as Commander in Chief, a 23 year old Washington served as aide-de-camp (high ranking personal assistant) to British General Edward Braddock in the French and Indian War - riding through enemy gunfire to deliver vital messages across the battlefield. Historian Joseph Ellis reports that in the chaos of the Battle of Monongahela, every other officer on horseback was killed, two of Washington’s horses were shot beneath him, his coat had 4 bullet holes and there was even shrapnel found in his hair - and yet he walked away without a scratch.
Years later, an elderly Native American chief who had fought against him in the battle sought Washington out. He told him that he had personally shot at him 17 times, and ordered his men to do the same - but not a single bullet found their mark, eventually telling his men to stop wasting their ammunition. The chief finished the meeting by explaining that before he died, he wanted to meet the man who was “protected by the Great Presence Above”.
“It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.”
Washington echoes the truth of Psalm 127:1, ‘Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.”. As a Founding Father of the United States, he held that without the foundation of the Word of God no nation would prosper. While debating the US Constitution in 1788, Washington wrote - almost prophetically - to Rev Samuel Langdon:
“I have no doubt that the United States will be the most prosperous and powerful nation in the world, provided we continue to follow the ways of God.”.
Throughout the Old Testament and into today, we see what happens when a nation turns away from God towards humanism the outcome - without fail - is disastrous. Yes, we have elected a president who stands for Christian values, but we must also be aware that whoever sits in the Oval Office is not the Savior.
This President’s Day, let us remember George Washington’s legacy by putting Jesus first in our lives and in our country. We must actively seek His Kingdom and His righteousness, as Matthew 6:33 instructs us. Let us pray for our leaders, support and advocate for policies rooted in Biblical truth and build communities that reflect the love and mercy of Christ, whilst uncovering and repenting of sin everywhere we find it.
If we want our nation to be prosperous and powerful once more the answer is simple: we must return to following the ways of Jesus, because He is the one hope for America.
America shall be saved,
1Hope4America Team
