At lunch with a friend recently, we began to detail how quickly it seemed things were falling apart in our world. The attacks in Paris were fresh in our minds, but the homosexual marriage debate, Planned Parenthood videos and American attitudes toward Christianity weren't far behind.

What happened?

Like aging men do, we lamented how difficult things would be for our kids and grandkids one day in this crazy new  world. We wondered how bad things would actually get.

Where are we going?

At the root of our conversation, I'm afraid, was fear. Fear that the Muslim extremists, or the pagans, or the secularists were winning. Fear that our kids and grandkids might be overcome by these enemies in the future.

I'm not proud of my fear. But it's there.

Which is why it's a great time for Advent! I don't need to remind you of the oft-shared phrase "Do not be afraid" found in those first couple of chapters of Luke. God was coming ... and it was understandable for that to cause some fear! But God was coming humbly. He was coming in grace and truth. He was coming with healing in His wings. And He was coming to save, to forgive, to rescue. He was coming as He had promised. He was coming as a baby born of a virgin. And His coming, and His presence, meant that His people didn't need to be afraid.