Before the world was created, the Word already existed; he was with God, and he was the same as God. From the very beginning the Word was with God. Through him God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without him. The Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out.

John 1:1-5

What if Robert E. Lee had not lost the Battle of Gettysburg? What if the Dutch had kept New Amsterdam? What if Booth had missed when he fired at Abraham Lincoln? What if Napoleon had escaped to America? What if the senseless slaughter had not taken place on September 11, 2001?

Can you imagine what the world would be like without Christ? What would history have been without Him? And at a personal level, what would your own life be without Him?

But we do have a light in the world. At Bethlehem, God gave the command to light up the world. And then Jesus was born. A new and radiant light began to shine, pushing back the darkness of the world, of spiritual ignorance, and of sin and despair. Like a ship lit up in an otherwise darkened sea of sinful humanity, the birth of Jesus is like the sunrise breaking radiantly over the horizon of human history.

Our Daily Bread – December 22-23, 2001