“The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light” (John 12:35-36).
God came as a light into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved (John 3:16-17). "I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world” (John 12:46-50).
People are born into darkness, all roads but one lead to death, so God chose a people to be a city on a hill, a light unto the world, a light that leads to the road to life. As people traveled the road in darkness this light was to be a beacon of salvation. But the light grew dim because they loved darkness rather than light. God sent his son into this world and it received him not. Light (the way, the truth, the life) walked among the people and he was crucified. But many came to the light and He gave them the right to become sons of light; sons of God. "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12).
Again God has chosen a people to be a light on a hill. Instead of a city with a temple within, we become the temple of God, his Spirit lives in us, we are God's building (1 Corinthians 3:7-9,16-17). We "have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel" (Hebrews 12:22-24). As people travel the road to death, they are condemned already, so they need hope and life. Through us they will or will not see beacons of light, a light on a hill, on lamp stands.
City on the Hill -Casting Crowns
God came as a light into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved (John 3:16-17). "I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world” (John 12:46-50).
People are born into darkness, all roads but one lead to death, so God chose a people to be a city on a hill, a light unto the world, a light that leads to the road to life. As people traveled the road in darkness this light was to be a beacon of salvation. But the light grew dim because they loved darkness rather than light. God sent his son into this world and it received him not. Light (the way, the truth, the life) walked among the people and he was crucified. But many came to the light and He gave them the right to become sons of light; sons of God. "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12).
Again God has chosen a people to be a light on a hill. Instead of a city with a temple within, we become the temple of God, his Spirit lives in us, we are God's building (1 Corinthians 3:7-9,16-17). We "have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel" (Hebrews 12:22-24). As people travel the road to death, they are condemned already, so they need hope and life. Through us they will or will not see beacons of light, a light on a hill, on lamp stands.
If we have God's Spirit within us then we are temples of Light (1 Corinthians 3:17). “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16). People need life, all ways lead to death but Jesus. Jesus is the light of the world; abundant, eternal life. He is head of the church, the church is his body. The church is the city on a hill, the lamp stand. If the light grows dim again "I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place" (Revelation 2:5).
City on the Hill -Casting Crowns