Light looked down and beheld Darkness.
"Thither will I go," said Light.
Peace looked down and beheld War.
"Thither will I go," said Peace.
Love looked down and beheld Hatred.
"Thither will I go," said Love.
So came Light and shone.
So came Peace and gave rest.
So came Love and brought Life.
--Laurence Housman

Event after event has left the world questioning, "Why all the pain and strife? Why the slaughter of the innocents? Why troubles and sorrows?" It is getting darker and colder all the time. The sun is setting, the darkness is falling, and the world is looking for some ray of hope.

That hope is here.

Two thousand years ago, over the town of Bethlehem, a new star shone and an angel of God proclaimed to a group of shepherds, "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10-11).

On that special night, God gave us the greatest gift anyone could give--His Son, Jesus. Though Jesus came into the world as a tiny baby, He brought with Him all of God's wonderful gifts. As He grew older, He unwrapped these gifts for us, one by one, as He taught us how to love God and each other. Then, when Jesus died for us, He gave us the greatest gift of all--the promise of eternal life in Heaven when our time on Earth is done.

Jesus wants to bring His peace to the hearts of all men everywhere. He sees the misery and grief and pain of the heavy-hearted. He sees the weak and the weary. He sees those who struggle with fear--fear of the past, and fear of the future. He sees the persecuted and war-torn, those who have been robbed of hope and a chance to live in peace.

He hears our cries and reaches out to us in love. He offers us a way out, an escape route from our inner conflicts, fears, and sense of hopelessness.

"Let not your heart be troubled," He tells us. "You believe in God, believe also in Me" (John 14:1). "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you" (John 14:27). "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

Jesus will be your closest and dearest friend. You will be able to talk to Him anywhere, anytime, and He will answer.

If you will reach out your hand to Him now, He will lead you through the darkness and into the light. Jesus came into this world to offer you life and love and peace that know no boundaries. These gifts are not limited by race or religious background or color or creed. They are for now and forever.

He wants to be with you always, through every disappointment and every hardship. He wants to protect you from harm. He wants to be a light when darkness surrounds you. No matter how dismal the conditions, He will always be there to pull you through.

He will always be by your side, always ready to answer your questions, always ready to guide and instruct, always ready to comfort and encourage.

Even when there is trouble on every side, you won't need to worry or fear. If you have His love in your heart, no matter what happens, He will take care of you. No matter how dark the night, His light will shine for you.

Jesus will be your closest and dearest friend. You will be able to talk to Him anywhere, anytime, and He will answer. He will speak to your heart and guide you through the storms of life.

Jesus, the Prince of Peace, will not only give you peace in your heart here and now, but when this life is over, He will bring you to His haven of rest. In His heavenly Kingdom there will be no more oppression or war or poverty or pain or sickness or suffering or sorrow or death, but only peace and plenty for all. There evil and darkness dare not go!

Jesus is reaching out to you now. Won't you take His love?

* * *

If you have not yet personally received Jesus' gift of eternal love and life, you can do so now by praying the following prayer:

Dear Jesus, I want to receive Your gift of love--love to relieve my inner longings, and love to brighten the lives of others and help them find true happiness. Please forgive me for my sins, Jesus, and come into my heart as my Lord and Savior. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me to be a living example of Your love to others, so they, too, will want to open their hearts to You and receive Your love. Amen.