He was more than the first president.
Today in history the first president of the United States was born. George Washington was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He was the second son of the second marriage of a colonial plantation owner. His family was known to be loyal British subjects. At the age 17 he was a surveyor in the Shenandoah Valley. At 20 he joined the British army and served as a lieutenant during the French and Indian War. He inherited Mount Vernon from his uncle who died, and went to manage it after the war ended. He was 27 when he married a wealthy widow named Martha Dandridge Custis. He adopted her two children, but the couple had no children of their own. During this time Washington served in the colonial House of Burgesses, but grew frustrated with the British government, and soon became part of the Continental Congress. The Congress chose Washington to command the Continental Army and proved to be a good choice as he was a born leader. He used guerrilla warfare against the close-formation British, foiling them with his hit and run tactics. His winning the battles at Trenton, Princeton, and Yorktown proved pivotal for the successful forming of this young nation. He was elected the first American President. He considered himself to be an ordinary man, skillful in cricket, fox-hunting, and at 6’3” imposing yet graceful around a ballroom. He preferred that the office of the presidency to be one of dignity and humility, not monarchical. After leaving office he died of a severe respiratory ailment. He identified himself in his will as George Washington, of Mount Vernon, a citizen of the United States.
What if this man had never been born? How much of our history would have changed? Would the Army he commanded have won the battles, turning the war in the favor of the Colonist favor anyway, or would we still be under British rule? Would the office of the president of the United States be more of a dictator or monarch instead of a humble man of the people? What do you thing would have changed?
What would happen if Jesus Christ had never been born? The Bible says that sin entered the world by man, and therefore death was introduced, and separation from God. How would your life be different today? Would we have any chance at redemption? Would we still be sacrificing animals for our sins? With the population of today, would that even be a viable alternative to the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ on the Cross?
I thank God every day for the birth of his son Jesus Christ. His birth has given me the opportunity to have everlasting communion with God for eternity. The birth of George Washington was an important part of making this country free. The birth of a living sacrifice (Jesus Christ) was the only answer for freedom for us from eternal damnation. “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
As parents it important for us to teach our children what a privilege to be living in a country with religious freedoms. This was made possible by the leadership of men who believed and worshipped one God. They believed in giving religious freedom to the population, not taking that freedom away, just as Jesus Christ gives us the opportunity for freedom from hell, by accepting redemption through his sacrificial blood.
We as authors also have a freedom, to put into print, our thoughts without recrimination. We can disagree with the political factions of today and not worry about being hauled off in the night. This was largely due to the forward thinking of our founding fathers, like George Washington. Just as we are given free will by God to accept him and his son or reject them. That choice has always been ours. I know what I have chosen, how about you?
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
I John 4:10
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Ephesians 1:7
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20