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I put up my Christmas tree a couple of weeks ago. It’s an artificial tree, but I love turning on the Christmas music, and putting up the tree, lights, and decorations. The tradition is filled with meaning and purpose.
When our children were little and still living at home, my husband and I would take time to explain how the things we put in our home were to remind us of the true meaning of Christmas.
The nativity scene is placed in the center of the home as a constant visual of Who we worship.
Candles placed around the house remind us that Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.”
The tree symbolizes the tree that Christ was crucified upon.
All of these things remind us that the babe in a manger grew up, lived a perfect life, and died for the sins of the world. As we read in 1 Peter 2:24, “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.”
Each ornament on our tree represents something.
The angels are a reminder of the messengers of glad tidings. “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men,” Luke 2:13-14.
The Christmas balls remind us of the world and how, “God so loved the world.”
The doves remind us of the Spirit of God.
The bells remind us to ring out the Good News.
Even the candy canes have significance: in the shape of a shepherd’s staff, they remind us of the Great Shepherd. When turned upside down the “J” reminds us of Jesus. The white in the candy tells us Christ’s purity. The red stripes represent our Savior’s stripes. “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed,” Isaiah 53:5.
The star my husband places upon the top of the tree is a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem.
“Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” Matthew 2:2
A few years ago, we put up a real Christmas tree. It wasn’t perfectly shaped like the artificial one. No, this one was messy. The needles dried out and fell all over the floor. I had to water it, and it took more effort. But it was real, and we knew it was real by the sweet, pine fragrance we smelled every time we walked through the door.
Looking at my artificial tree, I can’t help but think of the real one in comparison. We live in an age of filters and flawless Instagram photos, where it is normal to fake perfect lives. The truth is it’s often easier and more convenient to be artificial. However, God calls us to be genuine, transparent, and real. He already knows our hearts. When we are real with ourselves, admit we’re broken, and cry out to God to save us, then and only then, can we be real with others. Our love can be without hypocrisy as it states in Romans 12:9 and God can shine His light through us.
The artificial message of Christmas surrounds us, but the real message is that when this world was at its darkest: unto us a child was born. He is the Prince of Peace. So, if you are looking for real peace in your life, look to Jesus! May every light you see remind you of Him. May the nativity scene draw your heart to the Christ child who came to save His people from their sins. May ornaments remind you of the greatest story ever told and may your Christmas tree point you to the cross.
Copyright © 2022 by Kimberly Williams @ www.kimberlywilliams.org No part of this article may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from Lifeword.org.