Salt Of The Earth

[dave c]

HEALING SHELTER MINISTRIES #134, Re-Written 02DEC09

Salt Of The Earth

by rev. dave c

I am writing from an area of the United States that puts the “Mid” in Midwest, and it’s becoming really cold here. It’s getting ready to be well below freezing at night and not rising much above it during the day. There is starting to be snow in the weekly weather forecast and I’m beginning to think about gloves, snow shovels, ice scrapers for the vehicles, and a big bag of rock salt for the patio and porch. Based on past memories, my imagination is kicking in and I can almost see an inch of ice frozen solid over our walks—threatening every step of my family and friends. Last winter I fell on the ice and broke my leg and I’m still trying to get over that one. Maybe I better get two big bags of salt.

As I think about it, salt is a really fascinating part of existence. We use it to melt ice in the dead of winter (how does it do that?), and it’s a really inexpensive and abundant flavoring for otherwise bland food. We use it to preserve meats and fish, and we gargle salt water to make us feel better. Salty food makes me thirsty, yet I used to take salt tablets in track to help prevent dehydration. Salt is an irritant to eyes and flesh, but it can also work to help sterilize wounds. I can use salt to kill weeds and prevent their growing back, yet our very blood has a saline base, and there is a pronounced taste of salt in our sweat and in our tears, so I know that it is somehow essential to our lives.

Salt is mentioned frequently throughout the Bible. In Leviticus 2:13, the Hebrews were told, Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings (NIV). The Levites were told in Numbers 18:19 that there was an everlasting covenant of salt before the LORD for both you and your offspring (NIV). Elisha, as directed by the Lord, told the men of Jericho to put salt into a new bowl, and as he threw the salt into a spring of poisonous water it became healed by God (2Ki 2:19-22, NIV). Abimelech pressed his attack against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he destroyed the city and scattered salt over it (Ju 9:45, NIV). We are asked in Job 6:6, Is tasteless food eaten without salt…? (NIV). Through the prophet Ezekiel, God reminds Jerusalem, On the day you were born your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to make you clean, nor were you rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths (Ez 16:4, NIV).

Most importantly, Jesus tells all Christians in all times and places, "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men (Mat. 5:13; NIV). Everyone will be salted with fire. "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other" (Mk 9:49&50; NIV). ...Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out (Lu 14:33-35; NIV).

When Christ tells Believers, “You are the salt of the earth”, the implications are wide and deep. We are to be a desirable flavoring in this existence. We are to be the preservative in this world. We are to assist in soothing and healing. We are to be making people thirsty for the Word of God. We are to encourage retention of the Word. We are to be an irritant to the flesh...especially our own. We are to be a cleansing agent. We are to help defeat the weeds that spring up uninvited. Finally, we are to be a part of all that is essential to, and for, life—and that would be Jesus Christ, Himself.

What about “salt losing its saltiness”? I believe that at least part of what Jesus is saying in all three Gospel references pertains to the activities of our inner and outer life. In effect, we are given 24 hours worth of “salt” at the beginning of each day. At the end of that day, it is determined how much of our time was spent being the salt of the earth, and how much time just being of the earth. All of the time that was spent in fruitless activities of unrighteousness is literally worthless and it is thrown out. That means that I might have 3 hours of salt from one day, 7 hours another day, and 20 minutes a third day.

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect (1Pe 3:15; NIV). The Christmas season brings us many opportunities to be the salt of the earth. Come January First, I wonder how big my bag of salt will be from December...and how much will have been thrown out? One more thing. Rock salt melts ice. Jesus is our rock, and we are the salt. Today, I pray, that we melt some of the ice of this cold world that threatens our family and friends. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone (Co 4:5&6; NIV). Amen.