A Prodigal Christmas Carol

Tree Farm

George was not from a wealthy family. Nor was he from a loving family. He had no father and his mother, broken from life’s abuses, could not bring herself to truly care for her children. From a very young age George saw the families of his friends and swore he would give his children the best life they could possibly have. Throughout his childhood George was always on the verge of starving. The only time he ever had enough to eat was when the little local church served their community Christmas dinner. He was allowed all he could eat and they even gave a little present. Usually a hat or some gloves but it was the best day of each year. Even though the northeast winters were cold his excitement grew each year as he began to feel that crisp winter air. When the snow fell he was truly joyful. To him it meant Christmas time was near. It meant that one day soon he would have enough to eat and someone would give him a present!

As George grew he began to really notice the story that the little church told before the meal. They told of a little baby named Jesus who was born of a virgin. This baby grew up and was nailed to a cross and died. What a terrible story to tell at the most joyful time of the year he thought. But they continued. This baby that came was not just some guy who was punished for his own crimes. This little baby was the blessed gift of God to mankind. A way to bring peace on earth and a sign of goodwill toward men from God. This was the Son of God Himself, come to die in our place so that we might have eternal life! This baby was the gift of God and that is why the church gave a gift to him. To remind him of the Gift of redemption given from God!

George began to love not only the feeling of having enough to eat and the little church that provided that meal, but also that little baby Jesus Christ in whose memory the gift was given. He knew that he was nothing more than a burden, and unfortunate bother, someone that even his mother did not love, but when he though about Jesus somehow he felt that it was a little different. As he grew older and Christmases came and went. Each year George grew to love that time more and more. He loved Jesus but he knew that He could never be good enough for Jesus to love him back. As a teenager George realized as the preacher told that wonderful story again that it was not just for the sins of the world that Jesus died, but for the sins of George. Jesus had paid the price and proved his love to George long before George had ever done anything for Jesus. George gave his life to Jesus that night and never looked back. He had his ups and downs, he had his doubts and fears but each year at Christmas George could be found at the little Church Christmas dinner with a smile on his face and a tear in his eye.

Christmas never became less wonderful to George. His favorite part of Christmas became helping set up the church Christmas tree in preparation for the meal. It was always a real tree. The smell brought happy memories of years past and hope for that year each time for George. He loved everything about the tree. Its triangular shape reminding him of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who make up the Holy Trinity. It stood like an arrow pointing heavenward reminding all of the reason for the season, the great gift sent down from heaven above. The lights on the tree reminding him of the Jesus the Light of the world. It became Georges dream to one day own a Christmas tree farm. He went to work seasonally at the Christmas tree farm owned by one of the church people.

It just so happened that the owner of the tree farm had a daughter Georges age. As they worked together getting the trees ready to bring joy into peoples homes they began to look forward to each work day almost as much as Christmas itself and the trees really had nothing to do with it! It was not too long before George married the daughter of the owner of the tree farm. It was not too much longer and George and his wife found themselves managing the tree farm as the owner and his wife moved to Florida to escape the snow and the cold.

Georges Christmas passion was contagious. He dreamed of turning the little tree farm into the largest tree farm in the state! George put more care into the trees than any other tree farm and through careful management, great customer service, and his contagious spirit soon the rows of Christmas trees spread over acres and acres of rolling hills. The trees were sold around the country and were known as the best trees to be found anywhere in the world.

Bob and Nicholas

Georges joy became even greater as two sons joined the little family. Both born near Christmas just a couple years apart. Bob was the eldest and he grew to be a responsible and dutiful worker on the Christmas tree farm. He never had the passion of George but he went about his work diligently. As the farm continued to expand he became a vital member of the management of the ever growing staff of workers needed to keep the farm running. Bob went about the day to day operations with efficiency but little passion. He did not grow up with the same experiences as his father so while Christmas was a special time for him. It was not even close to what it was for George. To him it was time off school and presents. Try as George might he never could convey how much joy could be brought into others homes by having a high quality, fresh cut tree. His heart was not turned toward heaven when he saw the trees like arrows pointing up. He saw business, efficiency, profits, and programs. With the workers he did not see the seasonal help just looking for a bit of money to put food on the table or be able to buy that special Christmas present. He saw labor. Yet this kind of business acumen did help the tree farm spread Christmas cheer further and wider than ever. I do not mean to paint such a bleak picture of Bob. He was not a bad young man really, just not that excited by sentiment and holiday cheer. He was of the sort that makes the world go round. Without efficient types this world would grind to a halt. It was not a flaw of his that he was efficient, It was his greatest strength.

Nicholas on the other hand was different. Nicholas was born on Christmas day. He never really was much a fan of that. To him Christmas and the birthday of Jesus upstaged his birthday and made sure no one ever thought about him. He despised Christmas trees, and everything to do with Christmas except of course presents. Nicholas was even named after the hero of Christmas past, Saint Nicholas, from whose store rose the legend of Santa Claus. Nicholas was a problem for his parents. Try as they might he never would listen. Sadly on many winter days throughout the years on the Christmas tree farm one could hear the baritone voice of George yelling across the farm at Nicholas who instead of working was often absent from the job, or worse destroying the best trees. Eventually George gave up on Nicholas and left him in the efficient care of Bob.

Nicholas became a thorn in the side of all who knew him. He was arrogant and spiteful, lazy and dishonest. Even Bob with his iron hand of efficiency could do nothing with Nicholas. Things finally came to a head one day in a tragic way. George had done his best to raise his sons to work, to contribute to the family, the business and society in general. He never let them know that they were rich, he never let them look down on anyone else, and while what they had was nice, it was not flashy, showy or over the top. Nothing about the family really showed what wealth was contained in the bank account of George, who carefully invested each penny in the welfare of his family, the church, and the farm. One summer day while George was carefully examining his financial situation he was called out of his office to attent to some matter on the tree farm. Nicholas, who was supposed to be out tending some project or other, took this opportunity to see what those private bank statements and investment reports said. He was shocked and angered that he had to work when his father could easily afford to hire the work out for another to do.

When his father returned he was seated at the desk, leaned back in the chair, with his feet resting on top of the desk. Nicholas made a ridiculous request. He demanded his inheritance. Regrettably, after a shameful shouting match, George acquiesced. Nicholas promised to never bother the family again if only he was given his rightful share of the fortune. It was done. All of the available cash, many investments, and much that would have gone to provide for those who needed help was put into the greedy pockets of the ill-named Nicholas and his named wiped from his fathers will.

Nicholas kept his end of the bargain. The very next morning a limousine arrived and whisked Nicholas away to a private jet for a luxurious flight to Las Vegas.

Vegas

In that place of wickedness and extravagance Nicholas thrived. He rented out halls and threw parties of epic proportions. He was the talk of the town. Everyone loved this new source of money and free fun, Nicholas. He believed he was making friends. Everyone always wanted to be around him. He gambled and partied for a few months until one day the money ran out. He was kicked from the most luxurious suite in the city into a historically cold Vegas winter. Usually winters in that part of the country are warm and comfortable, this year a storm blew in from the northern plains. Somehow, though it may never have happened before in southern Nevada, 0 degree temperatures mingled with ice and snow.

At first Nicholas was not the least bit concerned. He had hundreds of new friends who would take care of him. He had spent millions in the town, surely someone would repay the favor. But no one did. He was alone. From one friend to the next he found rejection. He was laughed at and mocked for his wasteful behavior. No matter, he knew what to do. He would throw another party, but he would charge for this one! It would bring in thousands, and with the money he could throw another one. He found it difficult to find a place that would host a party with only a promise of payment. Finally though, a sleazy establishment with an equally sleazy owner agreed to host the party. Nicholas announced it and spread the word. He was saved! Or so he thought.

Things did not go according to plan. On the night of the party, no one showed. Nicholas found himself alone in the middle of an icy winter with nowhere to get out of the weather, no money, no friends, and no hope.

Back at the Farm

Back at the Farm things were going well according to Bob. Trees were selling, Christmas was approaching, and best of all Nicholas was gone. According to George it had all gone wrong. He truly loved his son, even though he had rarely managed to have a civil conversation with him. It was all he could think about. As Christmas approached George did not really notice. It seemed that nothing could lift him out the pit of sadness he found himself in. He had failed completely as a parent and lost a son. How could he forgive himself. How could he make it right? He had hired a private investigator to follow Nicholas and report back. A few weeks ago the news had come home that Nicholas was out of money, and perhaps freezing to death in that icy winter. Nicholas had disappeared and no one could find him after his failed party.

Finally, that special Christmas party put on by the little country church came around once again. In a week it would be Christmas, but George, the most joyful man that the community knew, had not even bought a single present. He forced himself to head to the party. He had never missed and would go out of duty whether he wanted to or not. As he arrived at the party he saw the joyful faces of the children being filled with food and receiving their gifts. He heard the story of God’s love once again, and as he looked at the lighted Christmas tree he was reminded again of Jesus, the light of the world, who had lighted his own life. He was reminded of God, who had become his heavenly father sending Jesus to die in his place, unworthy though he was. He was reminded that before he had ever heard of God, before he loved God, before he served God, God died for him. God had not waited for George to come to him, but had sought George out and rescued him. Maybe, somehow George could go find his son and rescue him!

Redemption

Another private flight left the little airstrip in that small northeastern town. This time George was headed to Vegas. Not for indecent revelry, but on a rescue mission. No word could be found of the young man named Nicholas. Soon it was apparent that another big spender had arrived. George wasted no expense in getting information. It did not take him long to track down his son.

Things had not gone well for Nicholas. You see, he had planned that last party as his biggest and best yet. He had racked up an astronomical bill to that sleazy establishment. When he was unable to pay he was forced into working for them, but not for pay. They called it a job to help him work off his debt, but they deducted things like food and lodging and charged an insane interest rate on the debt. Instead of paying off the debt, it was only growing. Nicholas found himself effectively enslaved by those pleasure he once thought of as his highest aim and those people he once thought were his friends. There was no escape for the debt was completely unplayable.

But George arrived. The loving father who wanted nothing more than to mend the broken relationship with his son. George payed the debt, even though Bob surely would have advised against it. Since he had already liquidated nearly everything else to give Nicholas his inheritance, to pay the debt George had to sell a portion of the tree farm and mortgage the rest. He did not hesitate a moment, but payed what the dishonest businessman asked.

Christmas came that year at the tree farm and was quite a bit different. On Christmas morning a car pulled into the driveway and out stepped George, arm in arm with his son Nicholas. The party arrangements had been made. presents were given, and a feast was had. One box contained only a piece of paper. It was a new will which reinstated Nicholas into the family inheritance with no mention of the fortune he had already squandered or the destruction he had done to the family fortune.

And since every Christmas story should have a happy ending, even Bob was on hand at the part. He finally understood the heart of Christmas, the heart of God. He had seen it first hand in his father. Though he had certainly not been a perfect father George had proved his undying love for his children and through this they had seen a glimpse of the heart of God. A merry Christmas was had by all, and through the years the story was told by Bob and Nicholas. Together they managed and grew the tree farm once again into its former glory. Bob managed the day to day operations, but now with a bit of joy in his step. Nicholas had a new heart and now viewed Christmas as it was, a time to remember the presents and sacrifices of both his heavenly father and earthly father had made for him at that time of year.

Application

You will find a similar but quite different story in Luke chapter 15 verses 11-32. We know it as the parable of prodigal son. While I could never improve on the story that Jesus told of the fathers love, I hope to have in some way reminded you how much God loved you this Christmas season, whether you are his child, are his child, or were his child God loves you. And which of us could say that we were like prodigal son and made our way back home and found God waiting on us? Of course in one sense that is true, but I think most of us have found God a bit more like George. A bit more active. A bit more like Hosea when he bought back Gomer. We were all chained in our sins with no hope of escape. We each had though our own foolishness racked up a debt we could never pay, and yet God showed up here on earth. He came to us, he paid the price and offered freedom. At Christmas we celebrate Jesus arrival on earth, the birth of our savior. This Christmas season I ask you are you free? Jesus came to save his people from their sins and set them free. If you are chained tonight you can be free for the little baby born in Bethlehem so long ago grew to be the perfect sacrifice and died in your place. He rose again conquering death, hell, and the grave and stands with his loving arms wide open for you, no matter what your past looks like. Merry Christmas and you are dismissed.