Christmas Trees
With the first Sunday of Advent -- we officially enter into the Christmas season. This time of year is probably filled with more family traditions than any other. -- Each one of you no doubt have your own special ways of celebrating this season of the year. Some of you celebrate by gathering the whole family together for a time of food & fun -- & gift giving. Some of you celebrate by opening gifts on Christmas Eve; -- others would say everyone must wait until Christmas Day. But most of the family traditions we enjoy at Christmas -- center around the Christmas tree. Almost every home has some sort of a Christmas tree; -- it may be large, or small -- but there is usually a tree somewhere in the home. Even in homes where there are no presents -- there is almost always a tree.
Maybe in your family – it’s the job of dad to go & find the perfect tree & then bring it home for the family to decorate. Every time I tried to find the right tree -- I would come home with a tree which had two heads -- or had a crooked top -- or something wrong with it. My wife was always frustrated with my Christmas trees. So one year after Christmas -- I bought an artificial tree on sale for half price. -- That was 30 years ago & we have used that tree every year since -- & it has sure saved us both a lot of frustration!
Is your Christmas tree up yet? -- or will it soon be in place? It may look like Charlie Brown tree -- or it may look like the 45-foot tall tree that stands outside the White House -- but there is something about Christmas that is incomplete without a tree. Even in homes where there are no presents -- there is almost always a tree.
The Bible is the record of the story of Christmas -- because it records the love of God for mankind -- which is what Christmas is all about! The Christmas story is not confined to just those words that Linus quotes while standing in the circle of a spotlight during the Charlie Brown Christmas special aired each year on TV. Nor is the Christmas story confined to the Gospels of Matthew & Luke; -- it is found from cover to cover in this Holy Book -- & it is best summarized in the words: -- "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have ever-lasting life" (John 3:16). The true story of Christmas begins in Genesis -- the first book of the Bible -- & it is not complete until Revelation -- the last book of the Bible. And throughout the story -- there are trees that mark the beginning -- the climax -- & the end of this Bible long Christmas story! May I point out to you this morning -- the trees of Christmas found in the pages of Holy Scripture?
1. First, there are the trees in the Garden.
Look with me at the words found
in Genesis 2:8-9 -- (& I'll be reading from the NIV) -- "Now the Lord
God had planted a garden in the east, in
The love relationship that God has with mankind began in a garden thousands of years ago! It began with the first two humans -- Adam & Eve. On the sixth day of creation -- God took the dust of the earth -- formed it into the body of a man -- & then breathed life into that body. One of the wonders of life is just that -- the wonder of life! God made man in His own image!
On that same day in which God made man -- He caused Adam to go to sleep -- & God formed for Adam a beautiful wife. The first gift that was ever given was a wife -- & she wasn't even wrapped!
Both Adam & his wife Eve were perfect! They had no physical imperfections -- & more importantly -- they were without sin. That meant they could enjoy a relationship with God with nothing standing between them. -- Man & God were in perfect harmony.
God placed these two perfect persons in a perfect environment. There was no danger -- there were no sickness -- there was no cause for crying. Their only responsibilities were to have lots of babies -- & to take care of a garden that really took care of itself. And in the middle of that garden -- God placed two trees. The Bible speaks of them as "the tree of life & the tree of the knowledge of good & evil." God put one simple requirement on the young couple; -- God said: "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good & evil." God said that if there ever came a time that they chose to eat of that tree -- then there was going to be a consequence -- "... when you eat of it you will surely die" (Genesis 2:17).
It's kind of like those presents under the Christmas tree that are marked -- "Do not open until Christmas!" You remember the warning that you received from your mother -- or your wife: -- "If you open them, then I will kill you!" The difference between the warning that mothers give -- & the warning that God gave -- is, that God wasn't kidding!
You have heard the saying: -- "I couldn't see the forest for the trees." Well -- for Adam & Eve it was: -- "They could see the forest for the tree." Adam & Eve resisted the temptation for a while -- until someone came along -- who enticed them to do what they knew they were not supposed to do.
Every family has one -- that person who attempts to convince mom & dad to let them open the Christmas presents early. Or maybe younger brother convinces older brother to come down with him in the middle of the night to snoop underneath the tree.
The Bible records that there was a serpent in the garden who convinced Adam & Eve to disobey God -- & that brought sin into the world. The serpent said to woman: -- "You will not surely die -- for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened -- & you will be like God -- knowing good & evil." In essence -- the devil was saying: -- "God was just kidding with that death stuff. -- He just doesn't want you to have any fun. -- It doesn't make any logic to have to wait until Christmas to open all your toys. -- That's just less time that you will have to play with them."
Did you ever make that argument as a kid? Well, Eve listened to the argument that the serpent gave. She ate of the fruit of the tree -- & then she gave to Adam -- & he ate. At that moment -- something changed in Adam & Eve -- & in the world in which they lived. With one act of disobedience -- sin entered the world. "The eyes of both of them were opened -- & they realized they were naked; -- so they sewed fig leaves together & made coverings for them-selves" (Genesis 3:7).
God said: -- "Do as you are told." -- The devil said: -- "Do as you please." Does that sound familiar?
True to His word -- God brought death to Adam & Eve because of their sin of disobedience. They were driven from the garden -- making Adam & Eve the first couple who ate themselves out of house & home.
Death for them was not immediate -- but it came. And since you & I are descendants of Adam -- then we have inherited from him that sin nature -- & its penalty of death. Romans 5:12 tell us: -- "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man -- & death through sin -- & in this way death came to all men -- because all sinned" (NIV).
My friends, listen to me: -- sin & death are inseparable partners! The Bible declares that all of us have sinned. "For all have sinned & fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Because of that sin -- you & I are doomed to die -- "for the wages -- (the result, the payment) -- of sin is death" (Romans 6:23).
When Adam & Eve sinned -- they brought God's judgment on them-selves -- their descendants -- & their world. But even as God was passing out their judgment -- He gave them a cause for hope. In the midst of this story of the sinful fall of mankind -- comes the first Messianic Prophecy. God provides hope in the words of Genesis 3:15 -- "And I will put enmity between you (the serpent) -- & the woman -- & between your offspring & hers; -- He will crush your head, -- & you will strike His heel" (NIV). In those very words God prophesied concerning the second trees of Christmas.
2. The Second set of trees
are the trees on a
Like Adam -- Jesus Christ came into this world without sin. But Jesus was not born into a perfect garden; -- He was born into a putrid stable which reflected the putrid condition of the sinful world around Him.
Unlike Adam -- Jesus never yielded to the temptations He faced. In Jesus -- "we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are -- yet was without sin" (Hebrews 4:15b NIV).
Jesus lived a life of love & ministry to a people He had created -- & a people with whom He wanted a relationship. But the people to whom He came -- wanted nothing to do with Him & the message He delivered. Jesus told people that they were religious -- but they were not right with God. -- And He told them that He was the only way to get to know God. It wasn't through being good -- or doing good things -- or giving lots of money -- or having the right heritage. Jesus told them that they put on a good show on the outside -- but inside they were rotten to the core. They were wrapped real pretty so that it looked like there was some-thing extra special inside -- but all that was inside was an empty box!
The people didn't like to hear that -- so they rejected Jesus. Eventually, they placed Jesus on a tree; -- we call it the Cross.
The Bible records in Luke 23 -- that after Jesus had been tried by a Kangaroo court -- He was nailed to a cross along with two other criminals. "When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him, along with the criminals -- one on His right, the other on His left" (23:33 NIV). The three hung there side by side with Jesus in the middle. One criminal began to mock Jesus along with the rest of the crowd. He said things like: -- "If you are really God, then you've got enough power to get me out of this mess that I've gotten myself into. -- You can take away all of my pain -- I don't really care for you to have any control in my life; -- I just want the presents you can give me."
"But the other criminal rebuked him, 'Don't you fear God,' he said, 'since you are under the same sentence? -- We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. -- But this man has done nothing wrong'" (Luke 23:40-41 NIV). That man hanging beside Jesus realized something that us moderns still haven't figured out.
And that is that most of the pain we experience is not because an evil God delights in seeing us suffer; -- rather pain comes to us because of our own faults -- our own sinful nature! We deserve every heartache we endure because of our rebellion against God! We don't have the right to shake our fists in the face of God & say -- "Why have you brought this into my life?" The man hanging beside Jesus spoke correctly when he said our punishment is just.
But that criminal didn't end his conversation with Jesus by talking about punishment & judgment. "He said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.' -- Jesus answered him, 'I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.'" (Luke 23: 42-43).
On that day -- Jesus died on a tree of Christmas! Because of that death -- all mankind now has the means to live for evermore! -- "For the wages of sin is death -- but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23 NIV).
My friends -- Adam's act of disobedience brought death -- but Jesus' act of obedience brought life! The first tree of Christmas brought death. The second tree of Christmas brought life!
Notice there were two men hanging on the trees beside Jesus that day. One rejected Jesus -- & because of it -- he will never get to see the last tree of Christmas. But the other man received the forgiveness Jesus offered -- & because of that -- he lives forever even though his body died that day. This one -- like all who take Jesus' payment for sin as their own -- will get to enjoy the last tree of Christmas!
3. The last tree of Christmas is the tree in
Heaven!
When Adam & Eve sinned
against God -- part of the result was they were banned from the Garden of Eden. "After banishing them from the garden,
the Lord God stationed mighty angelic beings to the east of
But thank God -- the day is coming when all who have trusted Jesus as their personal Savior will once again have access to the tree of life! The Bible speaks of this day in Revelation 22:1-5. John describes his Revelation with the words: -- "Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life -- as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God & of the Lamb -- down the middle of the great street of the city. -- On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. -- And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. -- No longer will there be any curse. -- The throne of God & of the Lamb will be in the city -- & His servants will serve Him. -- They will see His face, & His name will be on their fore heads. -- There will be no more night. -- They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun -- for the Lord God will give them light. -- And they will reign for ever & ever" (NIV).
My friends -- the Christmas tree of Eternal life is awaiting us in glory! In Heaven -- the redeemed will find the Christmas tree of Eternal life growing in abundance. Look at the ornaments! -- Twelve different kind of fruit & fresh every month! -- The tree will bear twelve kinds of fruit & yield a harvest every thirty days! I will not speculate as to what all that means; -- I only wait to see its grand splendor & radiance in that Eternal day! It will be a Christmas tree like none other!
Conclusion: I would guess that every family represented here will have some kind of Christmas tree in your home this Christmas Season. May that tree remind you of the Christmas trees of the Bible.
I have spoken to you this morning about the trees of Christmas! One disobedient act committed at the first tree brought sin into the world -- & with sin came death.
But one act committed on the second tree -- the tree on a hillside -- opened the way for us to receive forgiveness of our sins. Jesus died on that tree to pay the debt that you owed! In a representative way -- we were all present at the foot of the first tree. The second tree is available to all of us -- if we choose. But the third tree -- the tree of life in Heaven -- is only available to those who come to Jesus -- admit their sinfulness before Him -- believe that He died on the cross to pay for their sins & rose again -- & then commit their whole lives into His care.
Maybe God's Spirit is speaking to your heart right now -- telling you that you've been celebrating the wrong thing at Christmas. You've been celebrating greed rather than celebrating the life you have in Jesus. He is telling you that you need to come to Jesus & find forgiveness. He is telling you that it is only through knowing Him in a real & personal experience -- that you will truly know the joy & peace of Christmas.
Pastor Lyle W. Pettit -- Wynne Chapel -- Cochise, AZ
www.wynnechapel.org