SALT AND LIGHT

SALT IS THE CONDITION AND LIGHT IS THE MISSION:

Unless one is truly and wholly sold out to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God and glowing Light, even a fleeting thought that one's consideration for such an awesome opportunity and privilege is merely wishful thinking. Let us be bold and courageous in our servitude by tirelessly standing guard over our hearts.

During this age in such a world that we live in today, it would be just plan unwise and dangerous if we neglected the need to do so. The prolonged and insidious absence of Light, or blindness and darkness, paves a road that could eventually lead to a state of hopelessness: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” (John 1:1-5, Proverbs 4:23-26, Isaiah 41;10).

As a Christ follower, another thought surfaces as I take into account the wages associated with being committed to a life of discipleship: self denial and the cross that must be shouldered at the dawn of each and every day. This fundamental notion is expounded upon in the scriptures by none other than the Lord of Glory: "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake the same shall save it.” (Luke 9:23-24).

We must certainly count the cost, my beloved brethren, as this is not a dress rehearsal. As Jesus came to this world to serve as opposed to being served and offer His life or purchase the release of a multitude of souls, at Calvary and on the Cross: “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.” (Luke 14:28-30, John 13:1).

The inimitable Paul the apostle was a shining example of one immersed in Salt and Light. Prior to this transformed life, He was called Saul and earned a reputation as a model Pharisee. He was a vicious, violent, hostile and intense enemy of the disciples of Jesus Christ, and even Christ himself. His was a mission of nothing less than kill or be killed, mayhem and retribution at minimum. As both a Pharisee and a follower of Judaism, his Damascus road experience (read Acts, Chapter 9) would humble a heart that had been hardened. Subsequent to a repentant heart and his conversion, he would ultimately be known as Paul. Thus, these words would then define who he had become: "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. ” (2 Timothy 4:6-10).

Paul developed and matured spiritually. Consequently, he became known as a prolific planter of Christian based churches and penned approximately 60% of the New Testament epistles (letters).

“You are the salt of the earth...” (Matthew 5:13).

The compound of salt is symbolic of stability, preservation, prosperity and infuses flavor. Thus, it fuels right living, Christ-likeness and it thwarts deception and dissolves the poison being poured out by the Devil and his demonic forces. In other words, the pleasant, positive and powerful influence of peace and wise speech is a preventative measure for exercising strict control over the unleashing of the deadly disease of wickedness in this world: “Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltiness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” (Mark 9:50;Colossians 4:6).

Throughout the the Bible there are examples and references to salt, both positive and negative. Though the focus of this message adheres to the former (positive), it's only fitting and proper that I mention at least one example of the latter (negative). For instance, you may or may not remember the misfortune of Lot's wife: “The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.” (Genesis 19:23-26).

“You are the light of the world...” (Matthew 5:14).

A beacon of light glows and stretches for miles and miles and is a spectacular physical light and source of hope, preservation and inspiration. The representative elect and select few of that One Name, and which is above and beyond every name, serve as bearers of His illuminating, piercing and perpetual light. It stands to reason that one has absolutely and positively no cause, no chance nor reason for stumbling, stammering and ultimately falling. In other words, your steps, my steps and the steps of others who have been ordained to walk similarly. We have been gifted with the capacity to step out of the darkness and walk in the true source of light and with the care and protection Jesus Christ inclusive: "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. I am the the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” (John 8:12;10:11).

Furthermore, if one was previously lost, he or she has been restored to the position and condition of being found (so to speak). As the Truth, Himself, speaks the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, His word teaches and reminds us: “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.” (Isaiah 9:2).

As today's message arrives at its conclusion, in meekness and lowliness I express and confess that the accomplishing of this work was none of me, but rather all of the Spirit of Christ working in and through me. My sincere hope is that the readership and others will be abundantly blessed by its content, and knowing that the forces of the dark shadow of the Devil, death and wickedness have been defeated forevermore.

However, until the Lord's second advent (or return), and lest we lose sight of the fact that the Bible teaches that Satan and his followers remain active in this world, but with limits placed upon the havoc that they are permitted to wreak! To God be the Glory! Let us persist in being that SALT and LIGHT dearly beloved that Jesus has called us to be, because the Word of God nowise and never will be anything other than the TRUTH: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6).