Jesus is the salt that makes us valuable (a living and holy sacrifice). Like salt, He purifies us, He brings healing, and He preserves us from rotting. Without Him, we could never be the salt of the earth. The salt of the earth can penetrate hearts, it can enhance the desire for more than what's seen, and cause a thirst that can only be quenched by the Holy Spirit.
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
And you, beloved, are the light of the world. A city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden. Similarly it would be silly to light a lamp and then hide it under a bowl. When someone lights a lamp, she puts it on a table or a desk or a chair, and the light illumines the entire house. You are like that illuminating light. Let your light shine everywhere you go, that you may illumine creation, so men and women everywhere may see your good actions, may see creation at its fullest, may see your devotion to Me, and may turn and praise your Father in heaven because of it. Matthew 5:14-16 VOICE
We talked last time about salt, this time let's talk light.
Jesus said we ARE the salt of the earth; He also said we ARE the light of the world. Not that we are becoming salt and light, but that we are salt and light. So the question we should be asking ourselves is, do I walk in that truth?
After creating the heavens and the earth, the very next thing God spoke into existence was light. Light made vision possible. It exposed the darkness. In the Genesis of creation, the earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light," And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness.(Gen 1:2-4 NLT).
When God says something, the truth He's revealing is not just physical, but also spiritual.
Like the earth, we enter into it formless, empty and in darkness. God's Light opens spiritual eyes so they may turn from darkness to light (see Acts 26:18).
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ." (2 Cor 4:6 NIV)
Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” (John 8:12 NLT).
Jesus makes vision possible to a life in darkness. The Light of the world separates out the light from dark. His light exposes hidden things and shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. Jesus declares His beloved light, commissioning her to go into the world as light. Part of my work, part of your work, as the light of the world, is to shine brightly.
People are chasing what they believe to be freedom, declaring, "I need to have and deserve whatever it is I desire." They do this without realizing that they were designed purposefully by a Creator with eternity in their hearts. Why do we doubt that our designer knows exactly what is needed for best results. We don't do that with anything else. We were designed by Him and for Him; this is true freedom—freedom that doesn't have to be chased, or defined, or is just out of reach. Yet a lifetime and into eternity is spent chasing pseudo freedoms that never satisfy, leading to perpetual darkness.
God provided the light—light always follows darkness. And evening passed and morning came ( Gen 1:5); weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning (Ps 30:5) — so why do so many choose to sit in the dark? Because they don't understand.
In Him was life, and the life was the Light of mankind. And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not grasp it. (John 1:4-5 NASB)
Theologian John Stott gave the church these words as a warning for rough times ahead, let them sink deep into your soul–
"‘The world is going down the drain,’ we say with a shrug. But whose fault is it? Who is to blame? Let me put it like this. If the house is dark when nightfall comes, there is no sense in blaming the house; that is what happens when the sun goes down. The question to ask is, ’Where is the light?’
Similarly, if the meat goes bad and becomes inedible, there is no sense in blaming the meat; this is what happens when bacteria are left alone to breed. The question to ask is, ’Where is the salt?’
Just so, if society deteriorates and its standards decline until it becomes like a dark night or a stinking fish, there is no sense in blaming society; that is what happens when fallen men and women are left to themselves, and human selfishness is unchecked. The question to ask is, 'Where is the Church?
Why are the salt and light of Jesus Christ not permeating and changing our society?"
These questions command our attention. No matter where you stand, it's difficult to deny the tangibility of the darkness looming. Our world is decaying ; it's suffering in darkness. It needs salt—it needs light. Jesus is the salt of the earth and He is the light of the world. As His beloved, He is in you, thereby making you salt and light. Open your heart to Him if you haven't already. Walk in His freedom and let Him love through you to show the world what He designed true freedom to look like.
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light (Matthew 11:28-30 NLT).
Why would someone say no? Well, I imagine it's because they don't know. I know I said no for a very long time, until—well, until God sent a beacon of light, and He separated the light from the darkness; giving me the ability to see.
I pray for revival, it's the world's only hope. But that has to begin with each of us—the Church. We are not just observers, we are sent as difference makers. The world needs you; the lost, the hurting; flaws and all. Because it's in the transparency of your weakness that the power of God speaks to the depths of a darkened soul. A soul that longs for more but is blinded by the lies fed to it by the devil, society, and the media ideology.
Will you shake the salt shaker? Will you turn on the light and let it shine everywhere for all to see?
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