Notes of Faith December 20, 2025
A Life Evergreen: The Christmas Tree
The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden.
Genesis 2:9
Joyce Kilmer was born during the Christmas season of 1886. His father (yes, Joyce was a man) invented Johnson’s Baby Powder. As a young man, Joyce married poet Aline Murray, and they had five children. The illness of their daughter Rose brought Kilmer to faith in God. During World War I he was deployed to Europe where he was killed by a sniper at age 31.
For centuries, families have been bringing trees indoors as part of their Christmas celebrations. It enables us to see God’s handiwork up close. Every needle and pinecone are designed by the Maker. Many theologians believe the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden—the symbol of eternal life—was emblematic of Christ. As you enjoy your Christmas tree this year, think of Jesus as both Creator and Savior, and let the fragrance of joy fill your home.
I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree…. A tree that looks at God all day, and lifts her leafy arms to pray.
If you didn’t recognize Kilmer’s name, perhaps you will recall the last verse from this poem: “Poems are made by fools like me, but only God can make a tree.”
Joyce Kilmer
Rev 22:1-5
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
In the beginning we (Adam and Eve) were told
Gen 2:16-17
16 The Lord God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; 17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die."
Gen 3:22-24
22 Then the Lord God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever" — 23 therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. 24 So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.
Isn’t it great to know the end of human history? After all, it is His story!
It seems that Adam and Eve could have chosen to obey God and not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and instead have eaten from the tree of life, which was not forbidden…
The love of God saves us from the eternal penalty for sin through faith in Jesus Christ and offers us forgiveness and eternal life to those who believe, follow and obey Jesus. May you who read this be those that are blessed to eat from the tree of life provided to those who live with God in the new Jerusalem!
Pastor Dale