Matthew 5:14 AMPC
[14] You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
The verse above is taken from Matthew's first recorded sermon of Jesus on the mount, after he had been baptized by John the Baptizer, been tempted by the devil in the wilderness, had heaven testify to His Sonship and the love of His Father for Him, and then chosen His disciples. In the chapter before the one where our verse for reflection is taken, we read of the life and impact of the man Jesus. It was said of Him that He went about all of Galilee, teaching in the synagogue and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and He was healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. It is also recorded that His fame went throughout the entire Syria at the time, and people from all over the place brought to him all who were sick with all sorts of diseases, as well as those who were possessed with devils, and it is recorded that He healed them. Can you doubt the popularity and impact of such a person?
Sometimes, the value of a thing is best seen in its absence.That is the situation with light and its impact on all of life. It is difficult to define light, yet you cannot doubt its presence or absence. One definition available online says 'light is the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible'. What is that natural agent? How was it made? As we know now from the bible, the first mention of light was at creation, when the Lord commanded there to be light, and it was so. It was not made from anything that the world has made, though there are devices and products that may provide light and brightness. Those are man-made products that can fail, because they are also dependent on other factors being present and working the right way for them to produce according to their set up. The light that the verse above speaks to is the type that cannot fail, because its origin and sustenance is not the kind that the world can limit or define.
The One who is Light, and who commanded light to be then says that those who are IN Him are also like Him. He is the Light of the world and all who have surrendered their lives to Jesus walk in that path. We have become His ambassadors and representatives down here on earth, and it is fitting that those who look at us know who we are and who/what we represent. As we know, an ambassador owns the mandate based on the country s/he represents; you do not do your own thing your own way. You have to speak, act and relate in line with the mandate of the One who has authorised you to. As it is God who has called and set us apart, men must know we answer to a different authority. We are in the world, but the world has no hold over us. That is why we are set on a hill; we cannot hide or be hidden. He leaves me here on earth, so that the world can know the value of His presence and power. I must represent Him well. God's time of favour is here.
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