In celebration of our 20th wedding anniversary, my wife, Laurie, and I spent two days in Washington D.C. then eight more days seeing the sights in Virginia. Only one word even comes close to describing that trip: Unbelievable! Celebrating 20 years together was great — and then to add to that the incredible historical adventures we went on made things even more exciting! For instance:
Washington: I had just finished reading the history of George Washington before our trip, then to see with my own eyes his beautiful home on the Potomac, Mt. Vernon, was awesome! We spent hours in the Smithsonian American History Museum where we saw the actual tent Washington used as his headquarters during the American Revolution! Also on display was one of his uniforms, and his camp chest (held his plates, cutlery, cooking utensils, etc.).
Jefferson: My pre-trip reading included other significant historical figures of the time period — like Thomas Jefferson. I stood mesmerized as I looked at the actual lap-sized table Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence on.
Capitol Building: To stand in the Capitol Building Rotunda and think of all that has transpired in that one room: Every President and significant historical and political figure in U.S. history since 1826 has stood in that very room — and laid in state upon their death! The Rotunda served as a hospital during the Civil War: Cots lined the walls and floor with the wounded and dying.
As all this history was going through our minds, the tour guide advised us to look up at the massive dome overhead: Completed in 1863, it is 180 feet above the floor and made of cast iron, weighing in at a mere nine million pounds! Painted into the dome is a beautiful fresco of George Washington.
Other places we visited were Jamestown, the first American colony, founded in 1607. They were doing an archaeological dig that day and I got to hold a piece of a jar from those early days. We spent a day in Williamsburg, the first capital of Colonial America. Another day was spent at Monticello, Jefferson’s beautiful home and grounds.
In the early years of our nation’s struggle for independence, the effective governing of the people is an indispensable study for every American citizen! Having visited many of our country’s historical landmarks I simply cannot pass up the opportunity to share with you some of the things that inspired us, things I felt (and still feel!) have significant Biblical relevance and application for us all! From events and people that have gone before us, we can learn seven valuable lessons. Using the word HISTORY, in the form of an acrostic, the lessons are:
- Avoid Hearsay Create A Godly Image
- Trust In The Sovereignty of God Wise Use Of Time
- An Obedient Life
- Make Personal Relationships A Priority Willingness To Yield To Authority
The first lesson from the past is the importance of avoiding hearsay. Proverbs 6:16-19 says: “There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.”
Notice that 3 of the 7 “detestable” things have to do with the tongue! Another word for this is gossip. Gossip and hearsay can destroy people and dishonor God! Trying to squash a rumor is like trying to un-ring a bell! Let’s look at an historical example of this.
We celebrate Independence Day on July 4. July 4, 1776 is the day that the Continental Congress introduced to the world the Declaration of Independence, a list of grievances against the tyrannical King George III that demonstrated why Britain had forfeited her right to rule.
These grievances were prefaced with Thomas Jefferson’s eloquent defense that: “…all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
The Declaration was signed by representatives of the 13 States of America. Let me ask you a question: Do you think the signers of the Declaration were slandered and gossiped against? Does it ever rain in Oregon? The British Crown verbally bashed and slandered them as defiant, dishonest, unprincipled rebels! So, tens of thousands of British troops crossed the Atlantic with poisoned minds, set on killing these “primitive colonials.” What happened?
- 5 of the signers were captured by the British and were tortured before they died
- 12 had their homes ransacked and burned
- 2 lost sons in the war
- 9 either died from war wounds or from hardships suffered in war
It all started with a lying tongue! A practical application of the poisoning effect gossip and hearsay can have taken place while Laurie and I were standing in line to take a tour of Thomas Jefferson’s beautiful plantation home called Monticello, near Charlottesville, Virginia.
Two women behind us were having a conversation about Thomas Jefferson. At one point one of these women said, “Jefferson was a real jerk. He was also a womanizer!”
I’d never read anything that even remotely suggested he was a “jerk.” I dismissed that with no trouble. But the attack on his moral integrity caught me off guard; it colored my view of him because I didn’t know enough about his personal life to fairly judge that comment (DNA testing has pretty much confirmed a physical relationship with one of his slaves — but this lady’s allegation was before I knew anything about that).
My point is this: We really need to be super careful about what we say about others — and especially where we say it! This lady unwittingly assassinated Jefferson’s character that morning in his own front yard! That was slanderous gossip, defamation of character. I’m sure you can see how gossip can destroy people’s integrity! It’s easy to see why God hates this particular sin so much:
When you think about it, it cost Jesus and His disciples their very lives; it cost Paul his life; it is a tool Satan uses to keep people away from God and church. To avoid being guilty of gossip, bear this in mind:
If we are not part of the problem or the solution than we have no business discussing somebody else’s business!
A second lesson to learn from our predecessors is the importance of creating a godly image. Notice with me what Jesus says about this: “You are the light of the world…let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
There are, as an example, countless stories of George Washington’s personal devotion to Jesus Christ. Family testimony is always the most meaningful. His granddaughter, Nellie Custis (whom George and Martha Washington adopted when her father died — Martha’s son from a previous marriage) wrote this about her grandfather: “His life, his writings, prove that he was a Christian. He was not one of those who act and pray, ‘That they may be seen of men.’ He communed with his God in secret.”
Although Washington was more of a doer than a sayer of his faith, God allowed his secret communion to not go unnoticed. Perhaps the most famous example is of his prayer at Valley Forge. A local farmer came across General Washington, kneeling in the snow, and with tears in his eyes was heard praying for his men.
During the first part of his presidency, Washington’s nephew, Robert Lewis, served as his personal secretary. Lewis said he’d accidentally witnessed his (Washington’s) private devotions in his library both morning and evening; that on those occasions he had seen him in a kneeling posture with a Bible open before him, and that he believed such to have been his daily practice.
Although Washington was a man of few words,
- When the need arose, he led his colonial army in worship of God on the Sabbath; he set Christian standards for his troops to live by.
- He was the spiritual leader in his home.
- He was also a lay-leader in his church at Alexandria (which we visited on our second trip to VA), and had a rented pew in the Brutan-Parish Church in Williamsburg, VA, which he attended when in the area (I’ve sat in his pew!).
What people see is critical. What Washington’s peers — and most importantly his family — saw had a profound impact. In fact, he was so revered and loved by the American people that he was the first (and only!) president to be unanimously elected: He won all the electoral votes.
From the example of George Washington, we can create a godly image that will make a difference: Commit to personal communion with God: It will make your public life more effective. You will be an inspiration to the people you care about and people you may never personally know in this life.
- Seize God-given opportunities to be a spiritual leader
- Be committed to serving in your home church
- When we say “God is sovereign,” we mean God controls every event, every outcome in history. Nothing escapes His notice or approval, and everything works for His own glory and purposes.
- This is clearly the psalmist’s understanding in Psalm 115:3:
- “Our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.”
- Solomon states it like this in Proverbs 16:4:
- “The Lord works out everything for His own ends…”
- When God closes a door, no man can open it; when God opens a door, no man can close it. When God chooses to protect us, nothing can harm us; when he sends calamity no man can avoid it.
- For instance, after a skirmish during the French and Indian War (1754-63; the battle to control the Ohio Valley, the British vs. the French and their Indian allies) in which George Washington was the only officer not wounded or killed, he wrote (1755):
- “…by the all-powerful dispensations of Providence, I have been protected beyond all human probability of expectation: for I have four bullets through my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet escaped unhurt, although death was leveling my companions on every side of me!”
- The Reverend Samuel Davis of Virginia spoke about Washington from his pulpit, wondering if Providence had not spared:
- “…that heroic youth for some important service of his country.”
That was a prophetic understatement! As some anonymous poet has stated: “Plagues and deaths around me fly/Till He pleases, I cannot die.”
Trusting in the sovereignty of God makes a difference in how we live our lives — and can be of tremendous consequence to the people in our life. This certainly was the case with George Washington!
I think of another incident that occurred during the French and Indian War, this time in November, 1758. In a skirmish, his men were mistakenly shooting at each other. He shouted “cease fire” but only a few heard him. Desperate to save lives, Washington charged into the crossfire, using his sword to knock the soldiers’ guns upward, making them fire into the air instead of at each other! Finally, the shooting stopped. Miraculously, Washington escaped without a scratch!
Reflecting back on this incident, Washington later wrote: “My life was in as much jeopardy as it has ever been before or since.”
From George Washington we learn some invaluable lessons about the sovereignty of God:
- The safest place in the universe is in the will of God.
- Resting in the sovereignty of God will result in a fruitful life because we will be in the center of God’s will!
Consider how much Washington accomplished with his relatively short life of 67 years — and the significance of what he accomplished. I firmly believe he was God’s instrument in establishing this nation. Without George Washington there would never have been a United States of America! He dared to trust that God was in control.
- Resting in the sovereignty of God will make our life more exciting!
Remember, faith is spelled RISK. I see no references in the Bible to God condemning people who take risks for His glory — but plenty is said about cowards, people who refuse to exercise their faith, to be vulnerable with their lives and resources!
- Resting in the sovereignty of God will free us from worry.
This was part of the lesson from Mark’s account of Jesus and the Twelve crossing the Sea of Galilee and encountering a furious squall (3:35-41)! As the boat is nearly ready to capsize, we find Jesus sawing logs on a cushion in the back of the boat! Terrified, the disciples wake Him up, He calms the storm, then says, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” In other words,
“What are you guys worried about? You drown I drown!”
The point was that Jesus was with them and therefore they had no need to fear! Nothing has changed! One of the last things Jesus said to them is true for all of us: “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” Matthew 28:20. “The longer you look back, the farther you can look forward.”
This is why the word “remember” is so often used in the Bible! If we’ll study the past — and learn from it, we can move forward because we’ll avoid the mistakes and imitate the successes.
With this thought in mind, I’ve been sharing with you some of the lessons Laurie and I learned from a trip we took to Washington D.C. and Virginia (1998) — seven valuable lessons, primarily from our Founding Fathers, that have significance, practical relevance for us in the 21st century. So far we’ve considered the importance of:
- Avoiding Hearsay
- Creating A Godly Image
- Trusting in the Sovereignty of God
In Ephesians 5:15-16, Paul writes, “Therefore, be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.”
It’s quite astounding at how much our Founding Fathers accomplished in their individual lifetimes! I believe the secret was not genius as much as it was good stewardship of their time. Look at how many highly intelligent people you know who accomplish very little with their life. It’s primarily because they are undisciplined and wasteful of their time; they procrastinate — until it’s too late.
I came across a cartoon-sketch of a church board meeting. The guys are sitting around the table, and one of them says, “I see our church’s biggest problems as communication — and procrastination.”
One of the members pipes up with, “Let’s not talk about it ‘til later.”
Someone who played a very significant part in the early years of our country was Thomas Jefferson (1843-1826). Consider with me some of his accomplishments:
- Scientist
- Botanist
- Inventor
- Surveyor
- Draftsman
- Philosopher
- Musician
- Astronomer
- Archaeologist
- Paleontologist
On top of all this, he was the loving father of six children! He’s most remembered as a statesman who, after writing the Declaration of Independence (with minor editing by Franklin/Adams), spent the next 33 years of his life in public service as Governor of Virginia, ambassador to France, first Secretary of State, second Vice President, and third President of the United States to mention a few! He also founded the University of Virginia and gave general oversight to his 5,000acre plantation at Monticello.
How could one man accomplish all these things? To be sure, Jefferson was a genius! In fact, there was a distinguished group of 300 lawyers assembled in a room once used by Thomas Jefferson at the College of William and Mary in Virginia.
The moderator of this esteemed gathering said, “There hasn’t been this much brilliance in this room since Jefferson was here — by himself!”
But brilliance wasn’t the only thing he had going for him. He also managed his time wisely. It is said the sun never caught him in bed. He was up before sunrise, reading, studying, writing. He attended to his other duties during the day then hit the books again in the evening. He even designed a special chair with candle holders on each arm so he could read at night!
As someone put it: “Tomorrow is the day when idlers work, and fools reform, and mortal men lay hold on heaven.”
To quote that great theologian — Apollo Creed: “There is no tomorrow.” Folks, we only have today. Use it wisely.
Some of our Founding Fathers (e.g. Thomas Jefferson) were Deists, an approximate equivalent to what we today might call an agnostic. But most of the Founding Fathers were deeply committed to Jesus Christ. They clung to Christ’s words in John 14:21: “Whoever has My commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me.”
It was this commitment to Him and a true understanding of what it means to have a “nation under God” that led Samuel Adams to declare, as the Declaration was being signed: “We have this day restored the Sovereign to Whom all men ought to be obedient. He reigns in heaven and from the rising to the setting of the sun, let His kingdom come.”
As we observed earlier, their decision to obey God rather than men came at great personal sacrifice; sacrifice which bought our freedom.
In contemplating the effect that separation from England would mean to him personally, John Adams wrote: “If it be the pleasure of heaven that my country shall require the poor offering of my life, the victim shall be ready, at the appointed hour of sacrifice, come when that hour may. But while I do live, let me have a country, and that a free country!”
On July 3, 1776, the day following the approval by Congress of the Declaration of Independence, John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, regarding the gravity of the decision: “It is the will of heaven that the two countries should be sundered forever. It may be the will of heaven that America shall suffer calamities still more wasting and distresses yet more dreadful. If this is to be the case, it will have this good effect, at least: It will inspire us with many virtues which we have not, and correct many errors, follies and vices, which threaten to disturb, dishonor and destroy us…The furnace of affliction produces refinements in states, as well as individuals.”
Commitment to do what is right; obedience to the will of God, no matter what. So we ask ourselves this question afresh: “Who is in charge of my life?” Jesus said, “The one who obeys Me is the one who loves me.”
That’s the bottom line.
Another lesson we learned from our predecessors was their commitment to personal relationships, family, friends, the country.
George Washington: Although George Washington never had children of his own, when he married the widow Martha Dandridge Custis, he happily took over as father to her son Jacky and daughter Patsy. When Jacky died in 1781, George and Martha adopted his two younger children. In addition to caring for Martha’s children and grandchildren, George and Martha also helped in the upbringing of more than 20 nieces and nephews, many of whom lost their fathers in childhood — a commitment to the family!
John and Abigail Adams: Their letters to each other reveal a storybook-like love between them and for their family — a commitment to marriage and the family.
Washington and Jefferson: These great men had a falling out over Jefferson’s concern that Washington’s administration was becoming too aristocratic. His criticisms were published and circulated — very threatening and resulted in a falling out. However, these men valued their friendship and later made amends — commitment to personal relationships.
That should be our priority as well. Go the extra mile to make things right in our relationships — as far as it depends on us.
When you have a meltdown in a relationship and it appears the other party is at fault, just remember: You’re not so hot either! We’re all “huggable and buggable.” That’s why Jesus gave us what we call the Golden Rule in Matthew 7:12: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
Paul writes to Titus: “Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good” Titus 3:1.
Every believer in Jesus Christ is called to yield, to submit to domestic, civil, and ecclesiastical authority established by God. If the presiding authority is tyrannical, we have the obligation to resist and support reform. This was the position of the American colonists which led to the American Revolution.
If, however, the authorities in our life are fair, just, we are to humbly submit. This applies to:
- Young people and their parents
- Sheep and their shepherds e.g. a flock/congregation and their spiritual leaders
- Citizens and their governing authorities
- Believers and their God
We can expect that submitting to this principle, even when we don’t care to, will result in God’s blessing. God works through the authority figures in our life.
When George Washington was 14 years old he decided he wanted to follow in his brother Lawrence’s (1718-1752) footsteps and join the British Navy. Lawrence got him a position as a midshipman (low-ranking sailor), so George packed his sea chest and was about to take off — then Mom showed up!
“And just where do you think you’re going, young man?” “I’m going to sea!”
She snapped back, “You’re not going to sea. There are pirates, storms, shipwrecks. Absolutely not!”
It was quite an explosive exchange. To stall for time, she wrote her brother in England for his opinion. He wrote back and said being a common sailor would not be in George’s best interests.
A young George Washington was greatly disappointed and sulked for several days. But he submitted to his mother’s wish — and aren’t you glad he did!
God works through the authority figures in our life. Are we listening? Are we submitting?
For all their strengths, the Founders of this country had their glitches. They were human just like us. I’m inspired by their successes and encouraged by their mistakes. I’m a little easier on myself and others.
For instance:
- Thomas Jefferson, for all his genius, apparently didn’t know how to manage his money very well: He died with debts equaling the national debt!
- For all his personal strength and virtue, Washington had an explosive temper, especially when criticized unjustly.
Martha Washington never forgave Jefferson for attacking her husband. She later said, “The two most difficult days of my life were when my husband died and when I had to entertain Jefferson.”
I’m sure the demons of bitterness took their toll on her. That’s a negative example we can learn from! From Martha we’re reminded to keep short accounts.
In Sum: Let the past shape your present; let the examples of godly men and women of yesterday affect your life today:
- Avoid Hearsay
- Create A Godly Image
- Trust in the Sovereignty of God
- Wise use of Time
- Live an Obedient Life
- Make Personal Relationships a Priority
- Be willing to Yield To Authority