City on a Hill

Journal 2006 09 15
City on a Hill

“…we set out early with a Stiff Breeze a head    saw Several deer Swiming the river soon after we Set out.    at 11 A. M. passed the enterance of the Kanzas river  which was very low, about a mile below we landed and Capt Lewis and my Self assended a hill which appeared to have a Commanding Situation for a fort, the Shore is bold and rocky imediately at the foot of the hill,  from the top of the hill you have a perfect Command of the river, this hill fronts the Kanzas and has a view of the Missouri a Short distance above that river.” That hill is downtown Kansas City, Missouri. Pretty good call by the Captains. Clark also notes “we passd Some of the most Charming bottom lands to day and the uplands by no means bad, all well timberd.”

The men spotted a huge “buck” elk on an island and sent hunters after it. Turns out it was one of the biggest, healthiest and best elk of the trip. The men also stopped once to collect apples. Evidently rattlesnakes must have been attracted to the apples on the ground, too. Clark only mentions the stop to collect apples. Sgt. Ordway adds to the record, “…as the men were gathering them Saw a number of rattle Snakes and killed one of them and saved the skin.”

As the return trip allows the Captains to add the foundation of their earlier observations Clark records the following analysis. “…the weather disagreeably worm and if it was not for the constant winds which blow from the S. and S E. we Should be almost Suficated Comeing out of a northern Country open and Cool between the Latd. of 46° and 49° North in which we had been for nearly two years, rapidly decending into a woody Country in a wormer Climate between the Latds. 38° & 39° North is probably the Cause of our experiencing the heat much more Senceable than those who have Continued within the parralel of Latitude.” Another good call by William Clark. Climatologists at universities will concur with his observations.

How visionary are we? Are we looking for a place to build for the future? Have we ventured onto unknown ground with an eye to building what can only be seen in our minds eye? We should. It takes work to have vision. Vision came with hope. Out of hope came the work of the mission. The work of the mission yielded vision for a new city on a hill.

You’ve been promised a city. “So says Jehovah: … And the city shall be built on her own hill, and the palace shall remain in its own place.”  (Jeremiah 30:18 MKJV)

“You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can't be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14 ISV)

“And I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of Heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her Husband. And it had a great and high wall, with twelve gates. … And the twelve gates were twelve pearls. …And the street of the city was pure gold, as transparent glass. And I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty is its temple, even the Lamb. And the city had no need of the sun, nor of the moon, that they might shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb.” (Revelation 21:2, 12-23 MKJV)

I’m looking for a better future and a new place to build. Now and in Heaven. I’m looking for and to that city on a hill.

Proceed on.