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

Years ago, I was driving with friends from Los Angeles back to school in Manhattan, Kansas. On our trip we passed through Albuquerque, New Mexico sometime after midnight. Having been on the road for 12 hours at that point, it should have felt like just another landmark locale on our journey. But for anyone who has driven into Albuquerque at night knows, this city is truly a sight to behold. Coming from the West, we descended down into a pit of light, surrounded by darkness on every side. I will never forget that visual. Yet, had we passed through during the day, I probably would not have  taken a second thought to appreciate Albuquerque’s stunning geographic position.

Strange, isn’t it, that we complain about the moral and spiritual darkness of our world, yet it is the perfect setting for the radiance of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said of Himself: “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12), and to His disciples, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.” As it turns out, a lit city can neither be hidden amongst hills.

In a dark world, people don’t see a great light without wondering why it’s there and what it means. We get to be that unforgettable visual. And we get to tell them about the source of our light.