Jesus used salt as an analogy to show the importance of being a true disciple. Salt performs two basic functions; it enhances taste, and it preserves. As Christians we bring flavor and meaning to a hopeless world. We also preserve society and order to a fallen world. How do we lose our salt factor?
Salt does not in itself deteriorate. Salt without its saltiness is contaminated salt. Salt is derived from the sea or from salt deposits in the earth. The substance we buy today is consistent and mostly free from contamination.
In the time of the New Testament it was not so pure. The water from the sea was evaporated leaving a residue of salt but the residue was not pure. It was often contaminated with other minerals and substances of the sea. If it became too contaminated, it lost its flavor or saltiness.
So, it is with us, if our lives become contaminated with the sin of the culture, we lose our flavor. Our otherwise influence becomes ineffective because we taste like the world.
The world system is continually trying to contaminate our minds. We have a deluge of information pounding our senses. Our soul is constantly under attack from desensitizing propaganda making the bad look good and the good look bad.
We must guard ourselves from these terrible delusions. We are eternal citizens of the Kingdom of God and not temporary citizens of earth. We need to keep our salt uncontaminated.
We can not be effective in the world by compromising with the world. To my brothers and sisters in Christ, I must remind you: Our hope is not in this world. The world system hates us as foretold by Jesus Himself. You can not do enough good works to make the evil world love you. They will use our Godly love to help feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and heal the sick. In the end they will still hate us. We must do good works as our Christlike love dictates but not to garner the approval of the world system.
If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. / If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. John 15:18-19 NKJV
How do we keep our Christlike flavor?
• We must saturate our substance with the Word of God. We allow the Bible to become our default source of information and principles. If anything contradicts the principles of the Word—throw it out and trample it underfoot.
• Let us start our day, fill our day, and end our day with prayer! A relationship with anyone is only developed with shared time. We need to spend much time with the Lord in prayer. If we do so, then our relationship with the Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit will increase.
• Fellowship with other believers is very important. We need to be a part of a local fellowship that tastes like the saltiness of Christ. They will not be perfect but neither are we. It is important to share our lives with other believers. In this setting, we need to work in a shared mission for the Kingdom of God.
• Obedience to God is not an option but necessary. When the characteristic of our lives is one of righteousness, then we have a life worthy of imitation.
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 trampled underfoot by men.
Matthew 5:13 NKJV
Yours on the Journey,
Harry L. Whitt
Pathway Journey 