Hope for Christmas

Christmas is here for another year. But this year, more than any I can remember since the 1980's Thatcher era when unemployment topped 3 million, people are worried about their jobs, security, income and home reposessions.

Economists tell us it is worse than we can even imagine. The RBS and HBOS were, we learn, a day away from not opening for business in mid-October.

The darkness is closing in... Many people hear the depressing messages, amplified by the endless media coverage, and fear the worst. Credit card debt is out of hand - and the Government has the gall to tell us to keep spending - and that spending is based on more borrowing.

Personal debt in Britain is now over 1.3Trillion pounds. There is no doubt that the Nation is heading for a fall, and the drastic measures being pursued by the government is only keeping the wolf from the door, as we store up trouble for the future.

Into this dark world shines the Light. And John writes about Jesus, "The Light Shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it!"

However simplistic it sounds, it is nevertheless true. Jesus is the light of the world, He is THE Hope!

Along with many Christians, we are involved in helping people learn life skills, get out of debt, and grow in confidence as they face enormous personal hurdles. However, if all we are offering are programmes (however good), we are only dealing with symptoms, not cause.

We need to offer Jesus. He is the Light of the World, and when He shines into peoples lives no darkness can overcome Him.