(Matthew 5:13-16) "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." As Christians, we are to be salt and light before this dark world we live in. The world that we live in is depraved. This world is cursed by sin. America, which was once a beacon of light before this lost world, has become a heathen and pagan nation. Today sin is promoted on the internet, the television screens, the billboards, public places, and the list continues. This world is decaying by the day. This world is on the pathway to destruction. Jesus said in Matthew 24 that if the days aren't shortened no flesh shall be saved. Jesus was referring to his second coming and illustrates what the last days are going to be like. We're living in those last days. II Timothy 3 gives an example of what the last days will be like. He says that men will be lovers of themselves, blasphemers, proud, boasters, children disobedient to parents, etc. Satan is the prince of this present world today. Nearly 2000 years ago Jesus died upon an old rugged cross to save mankind from his sins. The invitation to salvation is still present today. God has left Christians in this world to reach fallen man. We have the responsibility to live Christ before the whole world. The Apostle Paul said that to live is Christ and to die is to gain.
Jesus said that we Christians are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. What do "salt" and "light" symbolize in the Christian's life? What does Jesus mean when he says that Christians are to be salt of the earth and the light of this world? God desires for Christians to be salt and light because of this rotten, decaying world spiritually. Jeremiah 17:9 says that the heart of man is deceitful above all else and desperately wicked, who can know it? We live in a depraved world. Christians are to be salt and light in this world because this world is depraved. The world needs to see an example of Christ in this world. We're to show the world that Jesus lives. God's purpose is for the Christian to be conformed to the image of Christ. We are to be the image of Christ before this lost and dying world. There's an old song that says, "You're the Only Bible that Some People Read." The Christian is to be the "living Bible" before this world. Many people in this world don't read God's written Word. Therefore, it's imperative that Christians emulate Christ through their actions and deeds. The only image of Christ some people may ever see is that Christian on the job or in the community. If we aren't salt and light to this world, how will we be able to reach the world?
What are "salt" and "light"? Salt is a substance and the purpose for salt is to preserve flavor. Salt is white and it symbolizes purity. Salt is also a preservative. Whenever one kills a hog they will take salt and rub it into the meat so it won't decay. Salt in that instance serves as a preservative. Christians are to be a preservative in this dying culture. Without the Christian's influence in this world, this world would decay much quicker. If you think evil abounds at this moment, you haven't seen anything yet! Once Christ raptures his church away from this world, all manner of evil will be manifested before this world. It's the Christian's influence that restrains sin and prevents this world from being totally corrupt. Christians are to be a preservative in this dying culture. Christian also to symbolize purity before this world. We as Christians are to live holy and separated lives. We are to be sanctified. Romans 12:2 says to not be conformed to the image of this world but be transformed by the renewing of our minds. We're to walk circumspectly before this world. We're to be blameless in our walk and our testimony. When we allow sin and worldliness to creep into our lives, then we lose our saltiness before this world. We lose our testimony when our attitude and behavior is conformed to this world. As a result, we're good for nothing. There are people that are saved and they have wrecked their testimony before this world. As a result, their testimony is worthless. They would be well off to keep their lips closed and not even admit they're a Christian. If Christians are to have flavor in their lives, then they must not allow sin to be a part of their life. Christians can't flirt with the world and expect to possess any flavor when it comes to our testimonies. Christians must have a walk with God and follow God's commandments in order to give flavor and be a preservative in this world.
Salt also serves as a fertilizer. When we eat popcorn that contains a lot of salt, it will cause us to become thirsty and as a result we desire something to drink. We are to serve as a fertilizer. We are to be faithful in our witness and our testimony. We should live lives that are full of joy. We must show the world that the Christian life is full of joy. The world needs to see that serving Christ is the most wonderful a person can do. They need to see that living for Christ is worth it. If we as Christians aren't happy or content with God or if we allow worldliness to govern our lives, how can we expect the world to come under conviction? It's imperative that we serve as a fertilizer. We must show the world that there's no greater joy than serving Jesus.
Jesus says Christians are the light of the world. What is the purpose of light? The purpose of light is to shine in order to expel darkness. Light enlightens; it shows the way out. Light exposes darkness. Light reveals the way. Light shows you who to turn to. Light will also show you where you're located. Light also will reveal what position we're in spiritually before God. Without the shining of light, we can't know truth. I remember a Baptist preacher from Louisville, Kentucky one time mentioning before he got saved. He said one day the Lord "cut the light on". Before God saves a sinner, He "cuts the light on" to reveal that person is lost before God and he must turn to Jesus and trust Him as Saviour and Lord. Light exposes darkness, reveals sin, and shows the way out of darkness. God is light. God also gives light as well. Light serves as a path upon which to walk. That's why the psalmist said "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." (Psalms 119:105) Christians are to shine before the world. Christians are to be light before this sin cursed world. Christians are to be an example before this lost world. Christians through their witness and lifestyle should show the world that there is a God, that he's the way, truth and the life, and that only joy and peace come through the Lord.
What is the purpose of Christians being light before the world? We're to glorify God and the world should see our good works being salt and light. Those that are without God should be able to come to us whenever their world is upside down. They should be able to come to us and ask us to pray for them whenever their world is crashing. They should feel whenever there's a question they need to ask about the Bible, we can give them the answer through the scriptures. We're to shine this glorious gospel before the world. How are Christians to shine before this world? We are to shine before this world by living a separated, sanctified, and holy life before men. We're to be an example of Godliness and holiness before lost man.
The reason why the world doesn't have any time for Christians today is because of our careless and shoddy testimony before the world. We can't expect the world to recognize they're lost and need the Lord if we talk, act, walk, and smell like the world. Christians are to be uniquely and distinctly different from this world's system. The world should be able to identify us as Christians by our speech, our lifestyle, our desires, our passion, and our compassion. If we don't live as salt and light before this darkened world, we'll be useless and good for nothing but to be trodden under the foot of men.
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