In Matthew 5:14, Jesus says that “a town built on a hill cannot be hidden”. If you ever drive down a highway at night, you can easily spot a city that is at a higher elevation miles away because the lights of the town illuminate the sky above it.

Jesus compares this town to the light that we ought to be shining to the world around us because Jesus goes on to say in verse 16 of this same chapter, “In the same way, let your light shine before others”. I think this command is for both the church as well as individual followers of Jesus.

How do we shine like a town on a hill? Jesus went on to say in verse 16, “that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven”. We shine by doing good to others around us and the end result should always bring honor and recognition to our heavenly Father. Whatever we do for others ought to draw them towards Jesus Christ.

One way for us to know if we are truly shining lights is found in the answer to the following question: if our church closed or we died, would we be missed?