Ever stop and think about how common items effect our everyday lives? How easily salt flavors our food, yet you can barely even see it. And it doesn’t take much either. And even the smallest light can push out the darkness in a room. But without light we don’t feel safe.
Our lives are exactly the same. Jesus said that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16).
When you hear that we don’t always know what to make of it. Salt of the earth? Light of the world? It really has a simple and powerful explanation.
Salt does it’s job with out even being seen. You put a little salt on your food, or in a recipe and it disappears and goes right to work, flavoring and seasoning whatever it touches. It can be likened to our attitudes and behavior in everyday life, or our influence with people.
So when Jesus talks about us being salt He is talking about how our everyday actions can affect those around us. In other words, we rub off on them. Its our silent witness. But salt is no good if it never leaves the salt shaker either!
When we stay inside our Christian “bubble” and have no meaningful relationships outside of our church, we deny the function of the salt. And to deny the function of the salt is to deny the principles of the Kingdom of God. Don’t forget, Jesus never called us to be separate from sinners, just to be separate from sin. If the salt of the earth doesn’t rub off on those who are perishing, who will?
Light is described as a form of energy that is always moving. In fact when it ceases to move it is no longer light. So what is the true source of our light?
In John 8:12 it reads,
“Then Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”
People in this world are living in fear. Fear of war, fear of financial disaster, fear of everyday struggles. When people don’t have light, they are afraid. We have the opportunity as Christians to shine that light into their lives.
But our light does not come from ourselves, it comes from Jesus. We serve as mirrors reflecting the light of Jesus and exposing the darkness in peoples lives. And all darkness must flee in the light of Jesus.
Light also serves as a guide to people. Planes using lighted runways to land, cars have headlights to drive at night, and even ships have lighted buoys and lighthouses to avoid reefs and rocks. We are the guides to people living in darkness.
Light can always be seen, there is no such thing as a secret Christian. And our light shines not so that they see our light, but that they see Jesus’ light and love for them. The light is there so people can see where they are and where they are going. And when we openly share our faith through our testimonies of what God is doing in our lives, that light shines bright and unquenchable.
The time has come for all of us to be the salt of the earth. To use our attitudes, our behavior and everyday actions to silently witness to our friends and world.
But the time has also come for us to be the light of the world. To shine with the glory of God’s love. And when people see how bright and hot the light of God is in our lives, it will spread like wildfire.
There is a lost and dying world waiting to feel the love of God, and see the light of Salvation. So sprinkle a little salt, and light a candle for the world to see. What are you waiting for?
Resonant Love 