When the Trees Rejoice

Discarded Christmas Trees

What has happened to that fresh-cut Christmas tree now that the holidays are over? No doubt it has either been discarded in the trash pile, thrown into the chipper, or chopped into firewood.

Is the beauty of Christmas all that lovely to a tree? People celebrate with family and time-honored traditions like decorating a freshly cut tree, sending Christmas cards and giving exquisitely wrapped presents. But if you are a tree, Christmas is not the most wonderful time of the year. Pretend for a moment you are a tree.

• 34 million Christmas trees are cut down every year in the U.S.
• 50-60 million Christmas trees are cut down in Europe every year .
• 300,000 trees are cut down to make 1 billion Christmas cards each year.
• 50,000 trees cut down to make 8,000 tons of wrapping paper each year.

People are Like Trees

The Bible describes people like trees and the judgment as trees being cut down and thrown into the fire. Satan would like to judge us, cut us down and see us burn in the fire – just like all those used up and discarded Christmas trees. Oh, he pretends that it’s beautiful and delightful to live in sin, separated from Jesus, our savior. The lights and tinsel are so lovely. We almost forget we’ve been cut down and separated from our roots, the source of water and food that we need to live.

In contrast, Jesus wants us to be planted firmly, with our roots drinking up the water of life, so we can stand strong in the day of judgment. Not because of anything we’ve done, but because we stayed connected to Jesus and His righteousness.

Jesus is the source of life and light. His word is our light and his Spirit living in us gives us life (Ps. 119:105; John 6:63). He tells us to stay connected to him (John 15:5). He wants us to be like a tree of life, growing by the streams of living waters (Ps. 1:3; Rev. 22:2, 17).

The Trees Will Rejoice

Did you know the trees will rejoice when they are not cut down anymore? This interesting verse comes right after the fall of the king of Babylon. If you do some research on the history of Christmas and the real spirit behind the season, this makes perfect sense.

Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us. Isaiah 14:8

Whatever your views of Christmas, it will be a great day when Satan is not around to cut us down anymore. The trees will rejoice and so will I! 

Here’s a little video I came across from 119 Ministries. It’s something to think about. 

(Note: sorry for the ads at the end of video. You can stop after the first half. Don’t know how to edit it down.)