We start the New Year with obvious and hidden dangers. The newsworthy war against Ukraine is clearly evil, but like icebergs - many of the world's dangers lie under the surface, hidden and unreported, but powerfully controlling.
Last year we mourned the death of her late Majesty The Queen. The Archbishop of York said that her personal modesty and 'lack of self' came from her consciousness that, while she was a queen to whom others bowed and curtsied, she would always bend the knee to One greater than any, Almighty God.
Perhaps, the last year also revealed the power of the media to project those whose sense of 'personal self' seemed to be their sovereign authority.
Although Britain's public commitment to faith in Jesus Christ has been declining for years, a Christian ethic had remained - to guide values of honesty, family life, education and scientific integrity - even if participants did not recognise its origin.
But, Biblical lifestyle wisdom has been progressively trampled over. New cultural norms, which defy our Maker's instructions, are now enshrined in law. Matters of life and death, family and gender have been reconstructed; and our children are being educated to believe that the new values are right and therefore the old are wrong, even immoral and intolerable.
Our democracy has relied on the undergirding of Biblical faith and ethics to provide a society conscience; and the vast majority have respected and adhered to Biblical values.
But, erase the foundation of timeless truths that are in the Servant King Jesus from the public conscience ... and democracy has no external reference point.
And so we are called to live like the believers in 1st Century Corinth where Jesus was not known or wanted. We are called not to be afraid, to keep on speaking and not be silent. We are called to announce Jesus as the only Saviour because He has set His love on many people in the places where we live and work (Acts 18:9-10).
We are called to keep ourselves from idols, to live as God's servants, to show proper respect for everybody, to love other believers, to fear God and honour the King (1 Peter 2:17). That is the Jesus-way that BeaconLight seeks to announce. As we hold onto, and hold out, the Word of Life we become like stars on a dark night (Philippians 2:15-16).
Perhaps, it is hardly surprising that the greatest hunger for Jesus and His truth is in countries where persecution or hardship has refined the church, and the vanities of self-obsessed living have been blown away.
Empty hearts are everywhere around the world: in prisons, on the streets, in parched farmlands, in big business and government, in academia and among home-makers. BeaconLight supplies resources to our partners in all those places - pray for them, please.
The heart-felt cry of every believer is 'Amen, come Lord Jesus'. He is our hope and He will return, and when He does, the government will be indisputably on His shoulders! And meanwhile, He has promised that He will be with us, always!
Thank you for your partnership with BeaconLight as we enter this new year. Your prayers and support are powerful as God's Word of truth penetrates the 'new dark ages' to illuminate weary and dissatisfied hearts.