A Christmas Meditation
For many people, Christmas time is, as Andy Williams sings, “The most wonderful time of the year.” [1] There are many reasons for that—the beauty of the lights, the warming of hearts that Christmas cheer brings, gathering with loved ones, and, of course, the giving and receiving of gifts. Before I get too far into this meditation, let me warn you this will not be the standard type of Christmas meditation to help you revel in the season. This is the type to make you examine your own heart closely. Jesus is the reason for the season, and we should indeed focus on God’s gift of the baby in the manger that allows us to draw near to God. But, as the apostle Paul says, ‘What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short.” (1 Cor 7.29) and it is much shorter than when Paul first gave that warning to the Corinthian church nearly 2,000 years ago. Jesus gave many signs that would portend a time of trouble before his return. Those signs are upon us. So I feel compelled to give the appropriate meditation and warning in light of the current signs of the times.
Regarding thoughts of the season: joy, cheer, gifts. These are not just for Christians but God’s own people, the children of Israel, who are likewise celebrating with joy, cheer and gifts as they remember the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem during the festival of Hanukkah. Many outside both faiths participate in the gift giving. So let me get to the title question: Do you think you would ever fall for giving gifts for the wrong reason? I’m not referring to the commercialized secular participation in the giving of gifts without recognizing who the original gifts were for: the King of Kings. (Matt 2.11) No, I’m referring to the giving of gifts for a reason that is so perverse its inspiration can only come from the father of lies, satan (John 8.44). You would never fall for such an obviously and overtly wicked deed, would you? Well, if you have not fully committed yourself to the baby in the manager, who is now the risen messiah, don’t be so sure.
A Time of Deception Coming
I repeated Paul’s warning that the time is short. Short for what? You may wonder. Short before the day that the Lord has appointed to remove his church—those that believe in the messiah, the baby in the manager, and are trusting in him for their salvation from the judgment to come. It’s a short time before the church is removed from this world and taken to be with him. While there is currently deception in the world, that time will be marked by great deceptions. So great, in fact, that those who are deceived will amount to essentially the entire world—those who are left after the church is gone.
In that day, when God removes the church from the world in what Christians call the rapture, the witness of the church is removed. But God will not leave himself without a witness. So what does he do? He sends two witnesses in the spirit and power of two great prophets, Elijah and Moses, to provide a witness on his behalf. But, like Noah, a preacher of righteousness (2 Pe 2.5), those two, in a world under the sway of the antichrist, will be hated. Attempts will be made to kill them. These attempts are initially unsuccessful as the witnesses are protected by the power of God. (Rev 11.5) But when the fullness of their testimony has been reached, God will allow the forces of the beast—the antichrist—to kill them. (Rev 11.7)
This is when the true heart of those left on earth is revealed. Two men have been savagely killed. What is the reaction of the world? Do they mourn over such a tragedy? No. They rejoice. Why? Because these two men spoke truth on behalf of the true God. Satan and the world who follows him hate truth. So, like the murderous savages of the October 7th, 2023 terror attack on Israel, who, along with their families, were filled with joy at the massacre they wrought, the people left on earth will be very happy over the death of the two witnesses. They will act like it’s Christmas time and give one another gifts. (Rev 11.10)
So what about you? Will you be with the rest of the world, rejoicing over the death of God’s two witnesses? Will you be like the Hamas killer who was so proud of killing Jews that he phoned home to his mother who praised him?[2] Don’t be too quick to answer. Consider the reason why the two witnesses will be killed: They will preach the righteousness of God and the need to repent and accept the God of Creation, who came as a baby in the manger, who now reigns as Lord, Messiah and Savior. If you have not done that yet, not yet confessed you’re a sinner, not yet accepted Jesus, Yeshua, Immanuel, God with us, as Lord and Savior, you are already on the broad road to this deception. (Matt 7.13)
So if you’re giving and receiving gifts during this season of lights, whether Jew or Gentile, consider, are you giving them remembering that this is a symbolic remembrance of the gifts given all those years ago to the King of Kings who came as a baby? Or will you simply enjoy a secular holiday, and in rebellion to God continue wanting nothing to do with the baby in the manger and thereby set yourself up to fall for one of the great deception to come? That is the lie propagated by satan about God’s two witnesses. You’ll recognize them. They will have power to stop the rain and turn water to blood (Rev 11.6) and will preach the truth of the baby in the manger who is now risen and reigning in power. The lawless deceiver will tell the world that the witnesses and their message are evil and need to be stopped. Since God’s witnesses refuse to stop preaching they must be killed. When God allows the antichrist to succeed in his hate, the world’s inhabitants will rejoice and send each other gifts. Such people, whose names will not be written in God’s book of life, will be condemned by God. (Rev 13.8)
When the world does that, will you be among them? Sending gifts for the wrong reason, rejoicing over the death of God’s two witnesses? Or will you prepare now, recognize the baby in the manger as the Son of God, come to save you from your sins, and that by believing in him you can have life in his name. (John 20.31) If you do that, you will be removed from the world with the rest of the church when Jesus comes for his church. You won’t be in the position of deciding whether you should celebrate with the antichrist and the rest of the world over the death of God’s two witnesses because you won’t be in the world. You’ll be with Jesus in his Kingdom at a different celebration. (Rev 19.7)
So, where do you stand with your belief? Let me give you a hint. It is much easier to believe now than in the days when the beast, the antichrist, is revealed. Most who believe after the church is gone will do so at the cost of their lives. (Rev 13.15) Believe me when I say, it is much better to believe now, when much of the world still celebrates the baby in the manger and only the satanic killers of Islam are overtly after your life. As scripture says, “now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor 6.2) Don’t wait until you’re faced with a difficult choice, and you have to choose between your mortal life and your eternal life. That will be a choice too difficult for many to make correctly. Decide today to follow Jesus and enjoy both.
Duane Caldwell | December 17th, 2025 | Printer friendly version
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Notes
1 Andy Williams, “The Most Wonderful time of the Year” – Stream from YouTube here
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2 Hamas killer of 10 Israelis phones home to brag to parents. Stream from YouTube here
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Jesus as a baby in the manger is showered with Gifts while God’s Two Witnesses watch and wait for their time of ministry.
Modified AI generated image
