You Are the Light of the World

Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.”

In this passage from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells his audience that they are to be different and they are to make a difference. This follows the beatitudes, in which Jesus talks about how attributes and circumstances that people commonly consider negative (such as meekness, persecution, poverty in spirit, and mourning) actually become blessings!

Almost 7 years ago we helped start a ministry in our church for young adults, which adopted the name Hill Climbers. Psalm 24:3-4 became our theme verse: “Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.” As young adults, they liked the idea of climbing up to something desirable – God’s holy place. Tonight we will gather the with the leadership team and celebrate God’s faithfulness to the ministry over these years.

While this marks the end of a season and has some sadness associated with it, we also recognize that God has fulfilled our vision of attracting and connecting young adults into the mainstream of our church. In essence, these young adults (now mostly married, with kids and in their thirties!) have reached the top of the hill that they had set out to climb.

As I was thinking about our time of sharing tonight, I was wondering what it looks like to have arrived at the top of the hill. Before Jesus’ death and resurrection, the temple in Jerusalem – which was the holy hill – was the place where God dwelt (now God indwells every believer). To be on the hill and in the temple meant to be near to God. But we need to go further. Jesus says that our nearness to God should change us – causing us to be a light to a dark world. People ought to observe our character and behavior and notice (like a big light on a hill!) a difference. And that difference is summed up in one word: love. Let your light shine!