Cities of Authority

In the Gospel of Matthew, the author writes in Chapter 5, verse 14, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden” (NIV). Every believer and follower of the Lord Jesus Christ is a city. Cities can be described as ‘large or important towns’. It’s where all the buzz happens; cities are known for the life they possess and the light they emit. Cities are often the starting point or launching pad of a traveller’s holiday to towns, villages and the farther reaches of the countries they’re sited in. They are often the point of reference for direction and distance to your intended destination.


What about hills? What do we know about them? Who could miss a hill unless the moles made them? Hills rise from plains, some steep, others with gentle gradients. Regardless of the angle and form, they stretch to the skies towering over man and land. A hill cannot be hidden. You can’t cover it with a huge blanket and say it’s not there. Even if you did attempt to weave the world’s largest blanket to keep a hill literally ‘under wraps’, its form will still show. There’s no hiding. Being on a hill is always to be in an advantageous position. Battles won are often fought from the lofty heights of hills and cliffs.

A city on a hill is keenly watched by many. How can it avoid being taken noticed of?

In relation to man, God has called many of His own to be such cities on hills. Christians can be huge sprawling cities sitting on rolling hills extending beyond what the eye can see. Some cities also sit perched on a hillock, but aren’t of lesser magnificence. Cities vary in size, just like the hills they’re found on.

If your faith is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness, you are that city on a hill. Are you investing your position of leadership and influence to illuminate the places (people) around you? Cities are aplenty in Singapore. I gladly report this as I meet many ‘cities’ in my course of work. The chief town planner has not called only a few of His own to positions of authority.

Surely you and I can shine flaming bright, offering comfort, hope and direction to others, being a city on a hill.