This
Christmas—try to
take a few
minutes out of
your hectic
schedule to
enjoy the scent
and beauty of a
freshly-cut and
decorated
Christmas
tree—perhaps
your own tree at
home—and as you
gaze upon it,
ponder to
yourself how
‘Life is Like a
Christmas Tree.’
The Christmas tree is one of the most familiar symbols of every
Christmas
season.
A
decorated tree
adds beauty to
the holiday and
brings hope of
great treasures
beneath its
branches for the
little ones on
Christmas Day.
But have
you ever thought
of the Christmas
tree as being
symbolic of real
life?
The next
time you look
upon a Christmas
tree to admire
its beauty—see
if you can gain
a fresh
perspective on
living a
Christian life
at the same
time.
From just a few feet away, take a good long look at a beautifully
decorated
Christmas tree,
and at the same
time imagine the
tree as being
our world.
The
former roots of
that tree
represented the
very beginning
of civilization.
The trunk
of the tree
represents the
growth of
civilization
over time, until
it spread to all
corners of the
earth, just like
the branches of
the tree
spreading out in
every direction.
Imagine
then the large
circumference of
branches at the
bottom of the
tree as
representing the
broad societal
base of poor
people in the
world.
The
center, slightly
smaller portion
of the tree,
represents the
lower and upper
middle classes.
Occupying
the top rungs of
society, as
represented by
the smaller
branches at the
top of the tree,
are the
relatively small
number of rich
people in our
world.
Imagine next that the ornaments on the tree are the various cities and
countries of the
world.
They come
in various
sizes, and some
of them are very
beautiful places
and some not as
much.
Then
imagine the
abundant needles
on the branches
and also the
lights on the
tree as being
the people in
our Christmas
tree world.
The
needles of the
tree represent
the large
non-Christian
population of
the world.
Try as
you might to
decorate and
‘brighten’ those
sometimes soft,
but often times
prickly and
irritating
needles, just
take a look
behind the
branches into
the inner depths
of the tree and
you will find
only darkness
and emptiness.
The
beautifully
decorated
needles and
branches put out
no glowing
light, because
their beauty is
merely a surface
beauty,
attempting to
hide the
emptiness
within.
It
requires
‘lights’ to
really
illuminate the
decorated tree
and make our
Christmas tree
world a thing of
beauty.
The lights on the tree are the Christians in our Christmas tree world.
Compared
to the
non-Christian
population of
the world they
are rather few
in number.
But as
you closely
examine the tree
you will not
find the
Christians all
bunched
together,
separating
themselves from
the rest of
society.
Instead
you find them
scattered
throughout the
world doing
God’s work in
the places He
has chosen for
them to serve
and witness for
Him.
You can
easily
distinguish the
Christians in
our Christmas
tree world by
their inward as
well as outward
glow, for the
light in them
has removed the
original
darkness in
their lives,
which was caused
by the sin
nature found in
each one of us.
The
ability of
Christians to
spread light and
enlighten the
world is only
provided by the
Holy Spirit
within them,
placed there
from the moment
they accepted
Jesus Christ,
the Son of God,
as their Savior
and Lord of
their lives.
Christians are
God’s lights in
this world for
making our world
a better place
to live full and
joyful lives.
The more
Christians in
our Christmas
tree world, the
more beautiful
the lighted
tree.
Now you may be asking yourself exactly where God and Jesus are located
in our Christmas
tree world.
Well, God
is there at the
very top of our
Christmas tree
world.
There at
the top of the
tree is where
you find the
most beautiful
decoration of
all.
It is
there; above all
else, where all
eyes turn
towards sooner
or later as we
view a beautiful
Christmas tree.
Yes, God
is there, up
above, looking
down on His
creation, able
to see
absolutely
everything going
on in His world,
and seeing to it
that all things
work together in
accordance with
His divine will
and eternal
plan.
God
watches over the
rich and the
poor alike, the
Christians and
the
non-Christians
alike, the small
to large cities
and countries
alike, and over
His entire
world.
And Jesus is represented by the power plug in our Christmas tree
world, for He
indeed is the
Light of the
World.
Jesus
Christ makes the
difference
between light
and darkness,
between lights
and all the
other
decorations in
our tree world,
and only
through Jesus
can your own
personal light
be lit—and that
only happens
when you accept
Jesus as your
personal Savior.
In conclusion, simply remember that it matters ‘not’ what your
physical
location or
personal wealth
is anywhere in
God’s world,
because God
loves you
regardless and
is watching out
for you no
matter what your
situation in
life.
What does
matter is that
you have
received the
light of Jesus
Christ within
you, which blots
out the darkness
of all your sins
through your
belief in Him.
God’s
pathway to
salvation and
eternal life in
Heaven is found
only
through His Son,
Jesus Christ,
and Jesus is our
Heavenly
Father’s special
Christmas and
Resurrection
‘gift’ offered
equally to all
of us—all we
need to do,
individually, is
‘accept’ His
free gift.
So, seek
and find the
power plug for
your life in our
Christmas tree
world—plug it
in—and then
begin letting
your light
shine brightly
in your life—and
then share that
light with
others.
Now, hopefully you can see how—‘Life is Like a Christmas Tree’!
This Christmas season—if you are looking for wholesome, informative,
inspirational,
and just plain
enjoyable books
to give as
gifts—I would
like to suggest
that you
consider any of
my four music
history books I
have authored,
and which are
available from
any of your
favorite online
booksellers.
All the
books include
the history and
facts about the
songs featured
in the books,
and the
‘Ultimate’
Christmas book
contains
‘in-depth’
biographies of
the authors and
composers behind
our favorite
traditional
Christmas hymns
and songs.
You will
find all of the
books to be
educational for
all ages.
Wishing you ALL a very blessed and
‘MERRY
CHRISTMAS’ this year!