By: D. Delay
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is
salt if it has lost its flavor?” (Matthew 5:13)
You
and I, as Christians, are called the salt of the earth because our lives
enhance and give meaning to this existence we call life. Before salvation, we
were like grains of sand, too numerous to count. But after receiving Christ, we
were transformed – no longer like minuscule debris of rock having little or no
difference from another lost piece of sand, to something distinctive in taste,
texture, and aroma.
It
may be an odd analogy, but Jesus compared believers to salt for a reason. Salt
is a dietary mineral, used for flavoring and preservation – needed by all known
living creatures. If abused, it can be harmful. However, it is also detrimental
to have no salt intake because it regulates the water content in our bodies.
Jesus used salt to describe how Christians are needed to bring balance and hope
to an otherwise dying world.
The
question He asked however is, “What good is salt if it has lost its flavor?” In
other words, if a Christian has lost his or her gusto and fervor, then what’s
the difference between the old grain of sand they once were and the so-called
salt they are now? The answer is: very little.
Because
of recent circumstances in my life, I pondered this scripture differently than
I have before. Trials can cause us to become weary if we’re not careful. And
just like salt can become diluted in water, Christians can become diluted (or
altered) by their experiences. For example, what we believed before a traumatic
event is sometimes not the same as afterwards. Why is that? There could be many
reasons, but the most common is depression, fatigue, self-doubt, and ultimately
reservations about what we believed in to begin with. And we have to clearly
understand there is an enemy at work in these cases. If we are the salt of the
earth and it’s possible to lose our flavoring, then it’s no secret the Devil
will do his best to make sure our effectiveness (our flavoring) isn’t what it
used to be. And if he had his way in every case, we’d have no flavoring left at
all – returning to transparent grains of sand with no threat to him or his
kingdom.
Jesus
said, “Salt is good, but
if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves,
and have peace with one another.” (Mark 9:50)
Consider
this: the sea is full of salt but it is only extracted through the process of
boiling (removing the water to retain the salt). I don’t like the idea of going
through fiery trials, but if that’s what it takes to recapture the “salt” in my
life, than maybe I’m okay with that. What I’ve learned is that God is not the
destroyer in this life. He said the thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10).
God is not the thief. God is the “Restorer” of broken lives and broken hearts.
The
boiling process will either prove or disprove the amount of salt contained in a
substance. In the same way, the trials of life will either prove our lives are
flavored by God or they will reveal how much we truly lack. Either way, if
handled correctly, the end result can be beneficial. For the one, their
revelation of Jesus Christ and His grace and faithfulness will increase; for
the other, a realization of their small faith can push them to a deeper
relationship with God because despite their lack, He remains faithful. The only
problem is: God has left the “salt containers” (you and I) to decide.
“So dear friends, don’t be surprised
at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were
happening to you. Instead, be very glad – for these trials make you partners
with Christ [and what He went through], so that you will have the wonderful joy
of seeing His glory when it is revealed to all the world.” (1 Peter
4:12-13)
I
have learned I can’t always control the trials I face, but I am the keeper of
my “salt.” Will I be bitter or better? Less seasoned or more flavorful? Will I
disappear into the background or stand out as an overcomer? Because in the end,
what good am I if I’ve lost my flavoring? |
No comments:
Post a Comment