Unhidable Cities

      Jesus said we are to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. These two metaphors get all the press on Matthew 5:13-16. However, there was a third. “A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

      This metaphor cuts to the heart of why it is difficult to be salt and light. Keep these statements in the context of the last beatitude. “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10). The people who ought to be most loved are the most persecuted.

      Our light exposes the darkness of those around us, angering them. Instead of striving to be brighter lights, they will attempt to dim ours. We are an exposed city in a strategic location. We are the city everyone knows how to find. We are the city many want to attack.

      If we hung out in the valleys or jungles, some would overlook us. Those who saw us would not have envy or angst about our location. But everybody wants to get the mountaintop city.

      We are tempted to take counter measures, dim the lights, build up camouflage, blend in. But a city set on a hill just can’t do it. It is exposed for miles. Even in the dark of night, the light from stars and moon illumines the hilltop city. No amount of trees and underbrush can cover the city’s walls causing the enemy to overlook it. This city is exposed. It is vulnerable. It is an easy target. That is who we are. We are a city so prominent, we can’t be hidden. We don’t camouflage, dim or blend in. We are exposed.

      This becomes our struggle. We want to shine brightly enough for people to see the Father and come to Him, but not so brightly people get mad at us and mistreat us. No amount of compromise will accomplish this feat. If we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world that influences some for good, we are naturally going to be the hilltop city that angers and provokes others. If we are no longer the hilltop city that angers and provokes some, we will no longer be the salt and light that influences others.

      Our light makes us easy and vulnerable targets. We will be persecuted. But then we are blessed. The prophets were treated similarly. So was Jesus. We will be tempted to move our city into the valleys, but we can’t. We must shine our light for God’s glory. Some will be angered. But some are searching for a heavenly city as Abraham was in Hebrews 11:10. Like runway lights that guide a plane to its final landing spot, the light from our hilltop cities lights the way for the wandering sinner to find God’s heavenly city.

      God is with us. He will bless us. Let us reside on the hilltops.

Edwin L. Crozier