Salt AND Light (Matt 5:13-16)

We read from the Sermon on the Mount that we are to be the salt of the earth and the light to the world, that we should not become flavourless or to be hidden away. When I asked the Holy Spirit this week to give me the point in a nutshell, He hit me between the eyes with the AND in between. I was also asked to remind of our obligation to God. We are supposed to be both at once. Now my wife majors on salt of the earth, doing whatever is good and right in any situation, helping everyone, doing the good works of righteousness even to her own detriment at times. Now there are many I see like this in the congregation around me. I don’t see myself so much as salt of the earth, but I am light to the world as I stand before a crowd and reveal Christ. Shelley is flavoursome but not so illuminating, while I am better at dispelling darkness but perhaps not so appetising. Yet we are obliged to be both salt AND light, hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Church.

We have a saying which springs from Roman times when soldiers were apparently paid in valuable salt rather than coin. When a soldier had not measured up to the fighting standard it was said that he “wasn’t worth his salt.” Jesus was stating to the gathered multitudes that they were of great value to him, that they not only “were worth their salt” but also the “flavour of the day.” Jesus was urging them not to lose this wonderful revelation in their lives and not to become worthless as that which remains after the crucial elements have leached out of the salt bag. What is left when moisture carries away the sodium chloride is simply worthless dust. In hot dry countries salt is so necessary for health, healing and preservation of meats. Jesus went around helping everyone, all being healed and set free. Jesus’ influence is salt of the earth and the flavour of the day.

We have a saying that the sun comes up but scientists say our earth rotates to the sun. A day might be 24 hours to us but above the Arctic or below the Antarctic circles the sun may remain just above the horizon for months on end, their day not setting until winter when it becomes darkness for months on end. Similarly the Day of the Lord remains as long as Jesus is ascendant. The Day of the Lord is when man sees the victorious reign of God’s Kingdom. Light is the revelation and understanding which evicts confusion. Darkness is the unknown. Light rules over darkness. Light helps us find our way, illuminates our path and dispels gloom. Jesus was and is and will always be the light of the world because he revealed the Father in heaven, preaching and demonstrating “the Kingdom of God at hand.” Jesus opened the scriptures and poured the light of revelation and understanding upon them. Sometimes we cannot see the light even though it is right before us, our eyes as yet being closed to the truth. People came out of their dark ways into the day when Jesus incarnates in our midst. The light of Christ is salvation.

There is one who calls us to Himself, our Father in heaven. It is God Almighty who has given to us cities and houses full of good things which you did not build, wells and waterways you did not dig, abundance of good things to eat which you did not plant. We are full because of God’s benevolence and alive because of His grace towards us. Think of what otherwise might have been, ravaged by war, decimated by floods and continual terrors. We are content and at peace. This is what the Lord has done and we should be thankful. We should meet our obligation as servants of a merciful master. Our obligation is to be both salt AND light in this our service to God.

Who wakes and counts their blessings? Who walks about and praises God? Who can testify of the wonderful acts of God? Christians need to understand their obligation for there is no other god. We are as a sprinkling of salt that flavours the world and a ray of light that illuminates the wonders of God. What are we who are called by His name if we losing our spice in life become tasteless and hiding beneath a covering of fear become gloomy? Is it not right before God to be salt of the earth and light of the world, as Isaiah 58:6-11 puts it do what is right and God is right there when we cry out to Him. This is according to Paul (Romans 12:1-2) your reasonable service, not conforming to the world which is your our obligation as sons and daughters to our Father in heaven. Is it so difficult to acknowledge to others the source of our providence and joy when we know in ourselves who is the source? We are obliged to be both salt AND light, hear what the Spirit says to the Church. 

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