Tale of Three Trees

Real treasure is always found when you look in the right place. It’s funny that while we think the secret to striking it rich is by seizing matters into our own hands, maybe the genuine fortune is found when we are willing to entrust our future into hands that are just a bit bigger than the ones that we received at birth.  
Did you ever think, even in your wildest dreams- that you could experience firsthand the most perfect ending to your life story if you would just dare to look up and trust the one who made you in the first place? 
Do you understand that you hitting the proverbial jackpot and soaring to even greater heights than you could ever possibly imagine might be connected more upon your humble dependence rather than brash independence?
There is an old story I would like to share with you today about three trees.  These three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up. 
The first little tree looked up at the stars and said, “I want to hold treasure.  I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones.  I’ll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world.” 
The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean.  She proclaimed, “I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I’ll be the strongest ship in the world.” 
The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a bustling town. She shared, “I don’t want to leave the mountain top at all.  I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they’ll raise their eyes to the heavens and think of God.  I will be the tallest tree in the world.”
Years passed by and the rains came, and the sun shone, and the little trees grew up tall. One day, three woodcutters climbed the mountain.
The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said, “This tree is beautiful.  It is perfect for me.”  With a swoop of his ax, the first tree fell.  The tree cried out loud, “Now, I shall be made into a beautiful chest, and I shall hold wonderful treasure.”
The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, “This tree is strong.  It is perfect for me.”  With a swoop of the ax, the second tree fell.  The tree cried, “Now I shall sail mighty waters. I shall be a strong ship for powerful kings.” 
The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked her way.  She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to the heavens but the woodcutter never even looked up.  “Any kind of tree will do for me,” muttered the third woodcutter as he swung his ax and leveled the third tree to the ground.
The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her into the carpenter’s shop.  But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feed box for animals. 
The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold or jewels of any kind.  She was coated with sawdust and filled with hay for hungry and lowly barn animals.
The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her into a shipyard, but no awesome sailing ship was made that day. 
Instead the once strong tree was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat.  She was too small and too weak for the open waters of the ocean.  Instead, she was taken to reside in a little lake. 
The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams and left her to lie in the lumberyard.  “What happened?”  The once tall tree wondered.  “All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God…”
As time went by and days became months, the three trees nearly forgot their dreams.  Then one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby into the feeding trough. 
“I wish I could make a real cradle for him,” the tree heard the husband whisper.  The mother just squeezed his hand as majesty seemed to embrace the smooth and sturdy wood. 
“This manger is beautiful,” she said, and suddenly the first tree realized that she was holding the greatest treasure that this world would ever know.
Years later, on what seemed to be a normal evening, a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the tiny fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the middle of the lake. 
Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose out of nowhere.  The little tree shuddered.  She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through this battering wind and rain. 
The tired man awakened and stood up in the boat, stretched out his hand and authoritatively proclaimed, “Peace!”  At once, the wind and the waves died down as quickly as it began. 
And suddenly, the second tree knew that she was carrying the most powerful king this world would ever know.
One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beam was yanked from the forgotten woodpile.  She flinched as she was carried through an angry, jeering mob. 
She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man’s hands and feet to her.  She felt ugly and harsh and cruel. 
But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose, and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree learned first-hand that God’s love had changed everything. 
It had made the third tree strong.  And every time people see the third tree to this day, they think of God, and that was better and made this cross the tallest tree in the world.
The next time you panic because you think that you might be missing out on fame and fortune, sit tight and keep your heart in God’s hands and trust that his care is taking you someplace worth going because it is turning you into someone worth being. 
And a good name is far greater than any riches and being used to bring honor and glory to the living God is the greatest privilege that any one of can ever experience. 
So today, offer your life as a living investment into God’s hands and then fasten your seatbelt and enjoy the journey and reap treasure that time cannot erase and no amount of earthly rust can spoil.
ED. NOTE: The author is senior pastor of The Lighthouse Church, 1248 Route 9 South, Cape May Court House.