A City on a Hill: Cliche or Call to Action?

Was Jesus just being clever and cute when he called his people the “light of the world” and “a city on a hill”? Or were Christ’s words a call to action?

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For Christians living in the 21st century in particular, the message of doomsday has become a normal staple of their everyday eschatological diet.

Newspaper headlines constantly claim “the sky is falling.” And with regular reports of “wars and rumors of wars,” it’s no wonder so many well-meaning Christians scurry off to their Jerusalem-countdown bunkers, as if Jesus desires for his people to hide and not be found. Let’s happily sing “This Little Light of Mine” while we fearfully crouch under our beds.

Meanwhile, the darkness seems to descend upon our local communities with ever-increasing force.

Yet Jesus, through whom and for whom the world exists (Col. 1:16), understands the power and potential of light better than we do.

When instructing the disciples on the ethics of his kingdom, our Lord said, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matt. 5:14).

The Apostle John also understood these things.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).

Moreover, after Christ’s ascension, the beloved disciple penned these hope-filled words to the early church: “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

Jesus actually means for his church to thrive and flourish in this world—and thus calls God’s people to live in such a way so as to literally dispel the darkness and advance his kingdom here on earth.

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).