Oh Christmas Tree!

Hello All,

I hope you are having a wonderful time during this Christmas season.

The Christmas tree can be considered an essential, and even indispensable, decorative item for the Yuletide season.

But have you ever thought about its significance in the midst of Christmas parties and celebrations?

Oh Christmas Tree!

By Joanne Liaw Sook Ling (2^nd December 2014)

'Father, isn't this a beautiful Christmas tree?'

Little Tom asked his father, Thomas, gleefully

'Yes, it is,' Thomas said as he turned on the lights

Which shone so brightly on the cold December night

'Father, since Christmas is about Christ, the Baby

What is the significance of a Christmas tree?'

Thomas thought a while before he answered his son

'There are a few stories on this, not only one

But I will try to put those stories together

Amalgamate them to give you the best answer:

In Europe during the eleventh century

'Paradise plays' were performed with a Christmas tree

Adorned with apples of the Paradise tree

From which the first man and woman rebelliously

Ate of the forbidden fruit for they sought to be

God's equal; but nakedness was all they could see

God pardoned Adam and Eve in His great mercy

But their sin brought God’s wrath upon humanity

The Christmas tree represents the iniquity

Of mankind who shook their fists at the Almighty'

Tom looked alarmed at this juncture of the story

'You mean that is all there is to the Christmas tree?'

Thomas chuckled as he held his little son's hand

'That would have been the end if God didn't have a plan

To save the sinful human race from damnation

Through His promise of the Saviour's Incarnation

Jesus Christ came, as a little baby, to earth

Delivered in Bethlehem town through virgin birth

The evergreen trait of the fir tree signifies

Life in the midst of death, rebirth in place of demise

Jesus stood in our place and bore the penalty

Of our sin through suffering, pain and death on the Tree

Thus, the Christmas tree symbolises both a tree

Of sin and a tree of life for humanity

Those who reject Jesus as their Saviour will face

Death for their sin; with no Saviour to take their place

But those who repent will find grace and Salvation

In Jesus Christ who promises us redemption

From the curse of sin; the tree of iniquity

Has become a tree of life; from sin we are free'

Tom reflected on the story he had just heard

He pondered deeply over his dear father's words

'Now I know that there is more to the Christmas tree

It's a Tree of life for sinners like you and me'

Points for Reflection:

For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

(1 Corinthians 15:22 ESV)

·         Do you believe you are a sinner?

·         Have you put your trust in Jesus Christ?

·         Although you may consider yourself a Christian, are you treating Jesus as the Master of your life who determines what is right and wrong? Or are you still holding on tightly to the reins of your life?

·         Are there areas in your life that you need to repent from? God is more than willing to forgive and help sinners who sincerely repent and seek to overcome temptations and sin. Although we may fall in our combat against sin from time to time, let us continue the good fight of faith in prayer and with the enabling power of the Holy Spirit.

·         In the midst of Christmas festivities, what does this season really mean to you?