A Thought from Christmas Tree Hunting
A Thought from Christmas Tree Hunting
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” 1 Peter 2:24 (KJV, emphasis added)
Now that another Thanksgiving has turned the corner it’s time to consider the Christmas season. Traditionally, after a faith-filled and festive time with the family, I usually take on the task to find the Christmas Tree! Not any ordinary tree will do. I search for a tree that will be deemed worthy of the season, declared as the most decorative tree on display and will also wrap our hearts and minds to the wonder of Christmas! What do we look for and expect from such an extraordinary evergreen?
Tree experts and enthusiasts proclaim that the most widely held fresh-cut Christmas trees come from the pine or fir species. Selecting the top tree type depends on personal taste and local availability. Generally speaking, the two most preferred real trees are pines and firs.
Pine trees showcase long, slender needles that are one to six inches long and are attached to the tree’s branches in clusters. These trees fluctuate along a spectrum of shades of yellow-green and blue-green. Pine trees boast not only beauty but also strong branches and favorable needle retention. It is said that the Scotch pine is one of the best Christmas pines.
On the other hand, fir trees have flat and waxy needles up to one and a half inches long that are attached directly to the tree’s branches in long, dense rows. Their color turns our attention and treats our eyes to hues that span from yellow-green to dark green. Some fir types even have touches of reddish-brown on the buds. Fir trees also enjoy more flexible branches than pines or spruces but will shed more. A fir tree happens to be the tree that I will seek because I personally believe it sets itself apart from others as it arrest our senses of sight, smell and touch. Notice I did not identify the sense of taste. Trust me, it will not taste good.
When I consider the finest tree my thoughts turn to the most transcendent tree of all: the tree that God the Father judged worthy to hang His son the Lord Jesus Christ on. In this instance, the present was not found under the tree but nailed to the tree. This act of sacrifice nailed all of our crimes and acts of rebellion deliberately done against a Holy God. In addition, our redemption (freedom from slavery) is never found in a religious system, tradition or creed, but rests absolutely in Christ Jesus the Lord.
“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” Galatians 3:13 (KJV)
“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.” Colossians 2:14 (KJV)
In closing, consider this thought: what was consummated as God’s Christmas tree will never be canceled. Instead, what was canceled was the curse of sin.
For the Glory of God,
PBKSR