Walking with the Wise #246: Take It Off

“The highway of the upright turns aside from evil;

whoever guards his way preserves his life.”
—Proverbs 16:17

On August 3, 1776, George Washington gave this order to the Continental Army,

“The General is sorry to be informed that the foolish, and wicked practice, of profane cursing and swearing (a Vice heretofore little known in an American Army) is growing into fashion; he hopes the officers will, by example, as well as influence, endeavour to check it, and that both they, and the men will reflect, that we can have little hopes of the blessing of Heaven on our Arms, if we insult it by our impiety, and folly; added to this, it is a vice so mean and low, without any temptation, that every man of sense, and character, detests and despises it.”[1]

Washington well knew that victory could not be obtained without the blessing of Almighty God, and in his order acknowledged the fact. If the men were to continue using profanity, when fighting for freedom against such immense odds, then there was no hope of obtaining victory, since it had to be granted by God’s omnipotent hand.

If we are to ever have victory in our life, we must put away from us all of the evil that is so closely associated with the unredeemed. We must use words in accordance with our status as God’s children, knowing that life is found in Him and in Him alone. He is the one before whom we live our lives and the sole Being of whom we are accountable. Let us take off evil from us, just as we do our dirty work clothes that have been soiled by sweat and grime, but let us put on the fresh linens of purity and Christlikeness, walking in the freedom and beauty of the life Christ has afforded to us. Amen.

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[1]George Washington, “Washington’s Orders on Profanity,” August 3, 1776, http://gwpapers.virginia.edu/documents/revolution/profanity_1.html.