This time of year many of us have a Christmas tree in our house. Some of us have real trees, while others of us have artificial trees. Most will adorn lights and handmade ornaments. While the Christmas tree tradition started within the last few hundred years, evergreen branches have been used for thousands of years as a symbol of celebration. In the winter, people would bring evergreen branches into their homes as a reminder of the spring that was to come. As a reminder of an everlasting life with God.
Evergreens trees stay green all year long. Evergreens don’t have to wait until the spring to blossom or grow. It’s no accident that these trees are a symbol of everlasting life with God!
God himself is everlasting. He is the God of infinite sameness. That’s why we can describe him and his love as evergreen. When everything around us is changing – when life goes through seasons, or goes through the ups and downs, God is the same.
“As long as his infinite sameness endures, he will not change his mind about setting his love on us. We cannot commit a future sin that will change his verdict, because his verdict was passed with every sin past, present, and future fixed in view. Whom God pronounces righteous will always be righteous. Nothing we could do can remove from us the seal of his promised redemption. Nothing can separate us from the unfailing, unchanging love of this great God.”
-Jen Wilkin
Isaiah 55:13 says “So you’ll go out in joy, you’ll be led into a whole and complete life. The mountains and hills will lead the parade, bursting with song. All the trees of the forest will join the procession, exuberant with applause. No more thistles, but giant evergreens, no more thorn bushes, but stately pines. Monuments of the living and lasting evidence of God.”
(The Message Bible)
The evergreen tree is a monument of the living and lasting evidence of God. When you see that Christmas tree in your family room today, I pray that you would be reminded of an everlasting life with God.