50. Jesus teaches about salt and light
– Matthew 5:13-16
Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.”
Mark 9:50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.” Luke 14:33-34 “In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile, it is thrown out.”
Salt is a powerful seasoning. Not only does it have a distinctive taste, but it also heightens the taste of foods. Additionally, salt has the ability to preserve foods from spoiling. But, if the salt loses its flavor, then it has no value. It loses its flavor when it gets wet and then dries out. All that is left is a tasteless residue that cannot be used for anything. Jesus compares Christians to salt. If we have “flavor”, then we can be powerful. As salt is used to improve the flavor of foods, we should make a difference in the world around us. Jesus didn’t tell us to blend into the world. Make yourself easily distinguishable as God’s follower. Additionally, just like salt, we must act as a preservative. We should preserve the good that is in the world and counteract the moral decay of society. Lastly, salt was distinctive in sacrifices to recall the covenant God made with his people. In the same way, we must live our lives in a manner that remembers God’s faithfulness.
You must constantly strive to be “salty”. It isn’t easy. You must take up your cross daily to follow him. If you do not give up everything, then you cannot be considered his follower. You must die to the world in order to live for him. You must speak up against what is wrong and live a life glorifying to him. Don’t lose the desire to salt the earth. Don’t become part of the world. As God’s child, you may be in the world, but you are not of the world. Salt brings out foods best; you do the same to the world.
Matthew 11:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Mark 4:21-22 “He said to them, ‘Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.”
Luke 8:16-17 “No one lights a lamp and ides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those that come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.”
People are often under the assumption that the only way to go to heaven is by doing good deeds. However, this assumption is false. Jesus does instruct us on how to live a life honoring to him but he does not say a moral person will go to heaven. Your actions do not define your salvation. If it did, no one would be “moral enough” to go to heaven. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Instead, the only way to go to heaven is by accepting Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross as an atonement for your sins. While Jesus’ sacrifice is strong enough to cover your sins from the past, present, and future, it does not mean that you should continue to sin. There should be a change in your heart. God doesn’t just give us a way to get into heaven, he also gives us the opportunity to have an intimate relationship with him. Our God is a living God. He desires our hearts. Out of love for him, our desires will slowly change to God’s desires. We will no longer wish to live in the destructive lifestyles of sin. Don’t feel pressured to do good deeds. Jesus’ sacrifice gives you freedom from the laws. Instead, ask God to make a change in your heart to desire what he desires.
Jesus asks us to follow him. One of his instructions, is to be a light to the world with your faith. Be like a city on a hill who cannot hid its light for miles. When the light of truth about Jesus illuminates us, we have the duty to shine that light to help others. Our witness should be public, not hidden from sight. We should not keep God’s good news to ourselves, but pass it on to those around us. More so, we should place our light where there is darkness in order for it to be best used. You don’t use a light during the daytime. Instead, you use light when you need help seeing something. In the same way, unbelievers need help seeing God and what life with him is like. Therefore, shine your light in a manner so that unbelievers may be brought to God. Be strong in your faith even when sin is all around you. Let your light influence your surroundings.
However, it is possible to hide God’s light. In fact, many Christians hide God’s light under a “bowl”. You hide your light when you: don’t speak up about what is true; follow the pressures of the world; deny what is true; let sin dim your light; ignore the needs of others; and don’t share with others God’s truths. Does your life show others how to find God and how to live for him? If not, what “bowl” is hiding your light? Is it stubbornness, pride, embarrassment, or complacency? Don’t shut your light off from the world. Let it shine and let it shine bright.
