We are continuing our meditation from yesterday. Jesus told His followers that they were like salt. “You are the salt of the earth.” What did Jesus mean by His words? Here’s the text:
You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet (Matthew 5:13).
Today, the English expression “salt of the earth” refers to a noble characteristic and basic trustworthiness found in human nature in specific individuals. It serves as a positive endorsement of character. In Jesus’ day, the metaphor would have carried great significance due to the vital role salt played in daily life.
Salt served as a preservative. In times without freezers and refrigerators, it was the only method to slow down putrefaction. The journey to transport fish from the Sea of Galilee to Jerusalem took two or three days, so fish or meat was salted to keep it fresh. Similarly, believers in Christ, by living a life of holiness, can mitigate the decay of the societies in which they reside. However, several grains must come together for salt to be effective and influence a community, that is, to slow the cultural decomposition.
Salt enhances flavor in food. Some foods are so bland that they become more palatable with added salt. I often eat two eggs for breakfast, but I find them tasteless without any salt (and a bit of pepper). Almost every cooking recipe includes added salt. The Lord adds flavor to our lives. The first time I encountered a person or group of people who loved Jesus and lived their salty lives before me, I desired what they had. Salt creates thirst, and what they possessed was what I needed. I had to drink deeply of the Lord Jesus. All around us are thirsty people; they just don’t know what will quench their thirst. If we don’t tell them, they’ll remain thirsty.
When we hear sermons on this passage of Scripture, it is often separated from the text that precedes it, where Jesus spoke about persecution. The Lord was saying that if we adhere to the beatitudes, we will face persecution because of the values we uphold. If we buckle under the pressure and compromise our commitment, we lose our ability to influence those around us. There are always individuals nearby who secretly wonder if there is any value in walking with Christ. You never know who among you may be inwardly seeking the truth. You are the expression of Christ to the world. If someone seeks light, peace, and hope in this world, will they see it in you? Will they be drawn to Jesus through you? I once heard someone remark that they never heard the Gospel when they were young, stating that if there were any Christians around him at the time, none of them “blew their cover!” Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones once said: “The glory of the Gospel is that when the church is absolutely different from the world, she invariably attracts it. It is then that the world is made to listen to her message, though they may hate it at first.”
I organize and lead tours of the land of Israel, and every time I go, I take people to one of the hotels located in the lowest place on earth, the Dead Sea, and the Jordan River Valley. Many enjoy a relaxing and healthful float on the Dead Sea. They apply the mud on themselves before showering and enjoying the spa and massage services offered by most hotels in the area. The evening before we leave for the Dead Sea, I warn people not to shave due to the high salt levels in the water in which they float. If they ignore my advice, their floating experience in the Dead Sea can be painful, even though the waters have healing properties.
The pain is not often well-received, but the salt and other minerals in Dead Sea water can heal the skin. One feels cleansed and invigorated after bathing in the water. Just as the cleansing properties of salty water benefit the body, our salty values bring an antiseptic cleansing power to the world. The light and salt we carry can bring healing to a decaying society. If those who do not believe in Christ see no difference in our Christian lives, there is no challenge to their worldview. There will be no hope to hold out to them. Therefore, the “saltiness” of our values is thrown away and trodden underfoot (v. 13). The Church, the lifeboat, should be in the sea. However, when the sea gets into the lifeboat, our culture is in trouble.
Prayer: Father, please help us prevent the world system’s values from creeping into our lives. Help us be effective preservers of those around us. Amen! Keith Thomas.
This meditation is from a more complete study found at the following link: https://www.groupbiblestudy.com/engsermon/2.-salt-and-light
The YouTube video teaching is at the following link: https://youtu.be/8oOycx-QgAM