SALT AND LIGHT IN A TASTELESS AND DARK WORLD 

Part One

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavour, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and to be trampled underfoot by men.

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."  Matthew 5:13-16

These words of Jesus were spoken by Him in what is known as the Sermon on The Mount, as recorded in Matthew 5-7, to His disciples. It is believed that the disciples hearing the words of Jesus at this time were a larger group than the twelve. The Sermon on the Mount, as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, is the longest discourse of Jesus recorded in any of the four Gospels. It includes some of the most quoted teachings of Jesus, including the Beatitudes in chapter 5, and what is known as "The Lord's Prayer" in chapter 6, really a model prayer for His followers. To most believers in Jesus, it contains the central tenets of Christian discipleship.

In this particular blog, I am looking briefly at the above verses from Matthew 5:13-16, where Jesus speaks of His disciples as being both salt and light.

In verse 13, Jesus says: "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and to be trampled underfoot by men."

Salt is a necessity for life and was a mineral that was used since ancient times in many cultures as a seasoning, a preservative, a disinfectant, a component of ceremonial offerings and as a unit of exchange. The Bible contains numerous references to salt in both the Old and New Testaments. In various contexts, it is used metaphorically to signify permanence, loyalty, durability, fidelity, usefulness, value and purification.

In Biblical Israel, the main source of salt was the Dead Sea. The Hebrew people would harvest salt by pouring sea water into pits and letting the water evaporate until only salt was left. It was used as a seasoning, a preservative and to disinfect wounds. In 2 Chronicles 13:5, King Abijah referred to God's covenant promise to David that he will not lack a man to sit on David's throne as a Salt covenant - that is, a covenant that can not be broken.

Salt used for food seasoning only accounts for around six percent of salt production, apparently. There are in the order of 14,000 different ways in which salt is used - as varied as in the manufacture of plastic, paper, glass, polyester, rubber and fertilisers - to household bleach, soaps, detergents and dyes.

In relation to its use as food additive, it adds flavor to many of the processed food products we eat.

It is necessary for the maintenance of life and healthy bodies, not only for humans but for animals as well.

Christians, using the analogy of salt, in society, act as a seasoning and as a preservative. If the salt is tainted by impurities, it will not be effective as a flavoring condiment. In order to be "the salt of the earth," followers of Christ need to display Christlikeness in character, and to stand up for righteousness according to Biblical standards for life and godliness. 2 Peter 1:2-9

The Bible says in Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. In times of revivals, and other visitations of the Lord to nations, society has been greatly impacted with thousands coming to faith in Christ, broken relationships restored, deliverance from drug and alcohol addictions, droughts broken, and other positive impacts resulting from the blessing and favor of God on nations and localised places of Holy Spirit outpourings.

Most Christians will be familiar with the verses in 2 Chronicles 7:12-14, or at least, verse 14. Following Solomon's prayer of dedication of the temple he had built for the Lord's presence, God spoke to him at night: Then the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: "I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself for a place of sacrifice.

"When I shut up heaven, and there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people,

"If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." When the church of Jesus Christ truly humble themselves before the Lord to seek His face, and to walk in holiness, the people of God have a seasoning and preserving effect on wider society, as the favor of God touches cities, towns and literally, the land. No politician, be it Prime Minister, President, Premier or Chancellor, or their governments can be a nation's Saviour.

Only God Almighty, through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ can truly be the Saviour for individuals and for nations, as they recognize Him as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Christians, as His ambassadors on earth, filled with and lead by the Holy Spirit, are salt to society, seasoning every area of influence with Godly wisdom and insight, and an integrity of life that values people from every culture, ethnicity, socio-economic background, race or creed - and dare I say it, vaccination status, knowing that Christ died for all, and His desire is that all should come to a place of repentance and be saved. 

In Mark 9:49,50 Jesus says to His disciples "For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another."

Salt was used in various sacrifices and offerings by fire in the Old Testament, as a symbol of purification.

We do not offer to God physical sacrifices today under the New Covenant of grace initiated by the Lord Jesus Christ, but the people of God today, Christians and Messianic Jews, are to offer up spiritual sacrifices. Romans 12:1,2 says: And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind He will find acceptable. This is the way to truly worship Him. 

Don't copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good, and pleasing and perfect. New Living Translation.

In a world that is increasingly hostile to Christians, as the antichrist spirit pervades every area of society influence, it is more imperative than ever that true followers of Christ retain their "salty flavor" as they live Godly lives grounded in the Truth of God's Word, filled with the Holy Spirit, and living uncompromising lives of integrity motivated in everything by love for God and people.

An added anecdote from Tessa

SALT - As a teen, I saw the immensity, the beauty, the dazzling purity and intensity of the salt drainage ponds near Adelaide in South Australia. It was literally awesome. Salt is essential for life - physical and spiritual. Let us be salt that is not flavourless or trampled!