It was a light for all to see. The people on the country-side tilted their heads up, and it never failed to be there. It always showed itself, for this city on the hill could not be hidden! It shone bright, and it drew people from the north, south, east, and west. They came from everywhere-their destination-the city on the hill.
The city and those who were in it gave them a hope and a purpose that they did not have before. Every person in this city was a true follower of Jesus Christ, born of water and Spirit. Only those who are truly born again can be an authentic member of the city, and receive all of its benefits. There are always some who try to say they follow Christ to get into the city, and perhaps destroy it. But, they are always found out! The city on the hill can not be shaken!
It is an ancient city, thriving with life. The city is hated and despised by everyone who is not a part of it. Those who first opposed it expected the city to crumble and fall-they did not expect it to survive! The more the city is hated, the more passionate it citizens become, and the more it grows! The more and more it is hated, the more and more people pour into its gates! All are welcome! There is room for everyone! The gates of hell can never come through it! The city stands, and it always will, until the return of its King- Jesus Christ.
This city on the hill can be found everywhere on the earth. It is made of the followers of Jesus Christ. They shine bright- like lights in a city on a hill. They can not be hidden! Everyone knows of their testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ, and they gladly share it with anyone who will listen.
This universal city is hated by the world. They seek to destroy it, alas, the more they try, the more it grows! It has stood this long and it will certainly stand until the return of our Savior. When he comes, He will look at this city of his. He will look for faith. He will look for love. He will look at those who did His will, responded to His calling, and multiplied His Kingdom. He will give rewards, and He will show what His followers could have had...if they listened to Him.
Will He find what He is looking for?
Matthew 5:14-16 ESV "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Matthew 16:18b ESV ", and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
Matthew 24:45-51 ESV "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed,' and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Luke 18:8b ESV "Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"
Acts 5:38-39 ESV "So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!" So they took his advice,
John 15:18-19 ESV "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you."
2 Timothy 3:1-7 ESV But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
The city and those who were in it gave them a hope and a purpose that they did not have before. Every person in this city was a true follower of Jesus Christ, born of water and Spirit. Only those who are truly born again can be an authentic member of the city, and receive all of its benefits. There are always some who try to say they follow Christ to get into the city, and perhaps destroy it. But, they are always found out! The city on the hill can not be shaken!
It is an ancient city, thriving with life. The city is hated and despised by everyone who is not a part of it. Those who first opposed it expected the city to crumble and fall-they did not expect it to survive! The more the city is hated, the more passionate it citizens become, and the more it grows! The more and more it is hated, the more and more people pour into its gates! All are welcome! There is room for everyone! The gates of hell can never come through it! The city stands, and it always will, until the return of its King- Jesus Christ.
This city on the hill can be found everywhere on the earth. It is made of the followers of Jesus Christ. They shine bright- like lights in a city on a hill. They can not be hidden! Everyone knows of their testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ, and they gladly share it with anyone who will listen.
This universal city is hated by the world. They seek to destroy it, alas, the more they try, the more it grows! It has stood this long and it will certainly stand until the return of our Savior. When he comes, He will look at this city of his. He will look for faith. He will look for love. He will look at those who did His will, responded to His calling, and multiplied His Kingdom. He will give rewards, and He will show what His followers could have had...if they listened to Him.
Will He find what He is looking for?
Matthew 5:14-16 ESV "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Matthew 16:18b ESV ", and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
Matthew 24:45-51 ESV "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed,' and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Luke 18:8b ESV "Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"
Acts 5:38-39 ESV "So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!" So they took his advice,
John 15:18-19 ESV "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you."
2 Timothy 3:1-7 ESV But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
