The second helper with a Christmas God-Connection now stepped forward. She had garland wrapped around her body, tinsel hanging from her hair, and Christmas ornaments hanging from her ears. She was so excited about Christmas! She said that she had been to Washington DC and had found out about the national Christmas tree! Maintaining the National Christmas Tree is done by the National Park Service.
Every year since 1923 the United State has had a National Christmas Tree, sometime called the National Community Christmas Tree, in Washington DC. This tradition started when Calvin Coolidge was the President. The tree is decorated and lit several days before Christmas by the President, his family or the Vice President and his family. There have been some years when they brought in a cut tree, but most of the time the tree has been a live tree. Several times the live tree has been damaged by windstorms or damaged by the weight of the ornaments and the tree has had to be replaced by another live tree.
The tree has been located in several locations over the years, but it has always been close to the White House. When Franklin D Roosevelt was President, he had the tree moved onto the south White House lawn and invited the people to ‘come into my yard’. Since then the location of the National Christmas Tree has been moved due to security reasons, and also so that more people could have access to the tree. The current location of the National Christmas Tree is in an area called The Eclipse, which is located just to the south of the White House.
Over the years there have been many different decorating themes, and the lighting ceremony has changed over time, but it is an event for the whole nation.
Application for you and me:
There have been several years when the National Christmas Tree has not been lit, and this is where this helper found the God-Connection!
In 1942, 1943, and 1944 the National Christmas Tree was not lit because our country was in the midst of World War II and having the tree lit would create a security problem. There were ‘blackout’ orders throughout the country during this time. Due to the shortage of materials during the war, no new ornaments could be purchased for the tree, so old ornaments were reused, and the school children in the Washington DC area donated ornaments to honor those in their family who were either in the war or had been killed in the war.
In 1977 President Carter had 2,000 green lights on the tree to symbolize hope. The theme that year was ‘The American Family’.
1978 the theme of the tree was ‘unity’.
In 1979 this country was going through a difficult time; the country of Iran was holding 50 Americans as hostages, and our President was constantly negotiating for their release. There was much sadness and anger in our country. President Carter had the tree decorated and the theme was ‘Joy and Light’, but the President had a surprise for everyone! The President’s daughter Amy turned the switch to light the tree, but only the star at the top of the tree turned on, and there were blue lights on 50 small trees along the path. The crowd of people were stunned! They thought that something had broken, but President Carter explained that only the star would be lit that year. The blue lights on the 50 small trees were to remind the people of the 50 American hostages in Iran. Then the President said, “We will turn on the rest of the lights when the hostages come home.” After the crowd realized what the President had said, they applauded! The President then asked the people to take a moment for silent prayer.
In 1980 the 50 American hostages were still being held in Iran. President Carter, himself, turned the switch to light the tree, and all the lights came on! After 417 seconds the lights were turned off! The hostages had been held in Iran for 417 days at that point, and the tree lights were on 1 second for every day of the captivity. The theme of the tree was ‘faith’.
In January 1980, during his last few days in office, President Carter continued negotiations to get the hostages released. This final round of negotiations was successful, and on January 20, 1981 during President Reagan’s inauguration the hostages were released and put on a plane headed for Germany! The National Christmas Tree was hastily redecorated and was lit a few days later when the hostages arrived back in our country, as President Carter had promised.
Christmas is the time of year that we celebrate the birth of Jesus. It is also a time when we strive for unity, renew our hope, strive for peace, and celebrate with joy. Unfortunately, many times the things in this world get in the way. The things that can ruin a Christmas celebration can be such things as wars, problems within families, death, loneliness, money problems, and the list goes on and on. During the time that Mr. Carter was the President, the hostage situation threatened to take all the joy out of Christmas, but that did not happen. President Carter is a Christian and he knows what the Bible teaches. God is ultimately in control, and nothing humans can do will change God’s ultimate design!
In the Bible in Psalms 2:1-5 it says:
Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans? The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against His anointed one. “Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God.” But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them. Then in anger He rebukes them terrifying them with His fierce fury.
God has a plan for this world; a plan to put an end to the effects of sin, and eventually put an end to sin itself! The first part of the plan was the birth of Jesus, which we remember and celebrate at Christmas time. Jesus is the sinless Son of God and He lived a perfect life on this earth and then allowed Himself to be killed on the cross to pay for our sins, then three days later He rose from the dead. Now, every person who believes in Jesus and comes to Him and asks for forgiveness, has their sins forgiven and has eternal life. Those who choose to ignore the gift of God’s forgiveness will face the consequences of their sins and spend eternity paying for their sins in the lake of fire.
One day God will also put an end to the evil and wickedness that controls so much of this world.
In the Bible in the book of Revelation 20:11-15 it says:
And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from His presence, but they found no place to hide. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Anyone who has not asked Jesus into their life will face the judgement described in those verses. But, there is a wonderful future for those who have come to Jesus and had their sins forgiven!
In the Bible in Revelation 21:3-5 it says:
I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among His people! He will live with them, and they will be His people. God Himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the One sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!”
President Carter knew the truth of these verses, so even though this country was going through a difficult situation with the hostages being held in Iran, he could still have the themes of the National Christmas Tree be hope, unity, joy, light, and family because President Carter knew Who holds the future and the future is wonderful for all who have accepted Jesus! Have you accepted Jesus into your life? If not, please pray and ask Him to come into your life and forgive your sins today!,