Christian Influence

When we got to the Atlantic, I was surprised at how dirty and smelly it was. Sure wasn’t like those pure lakes in Minnesota – but everyone ran into the water and seemed to be having fun. So I waded out to my knees and my legs started burning like crazy. That salt water on my poison ivy was pretty painful! But I got used to it and spent a few hours playing in the ocean.

You guessed what happened, didn’t you. That salt water purified my wounds. My poison ivy was gone in a day or two.

Many years ago I worked for a summer at Castle Rock Water Company in Dunsmuir. I got to work in the lab sometimes and test the water. I would go up to the water source for the city of Dunsmuir. They claim to have the purist water on earth – and maybe they do. Coming straight out of lava tubes beneath Mount Shasta the water is so pure they do not have to add chemicals or filter it or do anything to it. It is that pure.

But that wasn’t good enough for the water bottling company. They not only filtered it twice, but they exposed it to ion gas and to light – ultraviolet light to be specific. UV systems can destroy 99.99% of harmful microorganisms without adding chemicals or changing your water’s taste or odor. It is one of the best purifiers of water there is.

Salt and light are both purifiers. The Christian needs to be a purifier as well. We need to make wherever we are a better place. It is our calling to clean up the place. Christians have been responsible for changing society since the days of Christ – whether it is helping the poor, the widows and orphans, taking a stand against slavery, giving women equal rights or working against the evils of the day – like alcohol and drugs.

Today we Christians need to purify our world. We need to take a stand against abortion and the biblical abomination of homosexuality and legalized marijuana. I can guarantee you that if you do – you WILL be persecuted. The Bible says,

“In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” 2 Timothy 3:12

Nobody likes to be persecuted – but we have to be willing to suffer the consequences for being Children of Light – and for being light in a dark world.

Another 2) characteristic of light and salt is as a preserver. In Northern Minnesota a lot of people not only hunted, but they trapped as well. My younger brother, Mark, was one of the best. My cousin, Joe, is still one of the best trappers in the world – in fact one of the networks was talking to him about doing a reality show of his life. Joe has a tremendous trap collection – some of them worth thousands of dollars. His life has been about trapping and he has done well at it. In his den you will see all kinds of traps and guns and mounted heads of game he has killed through the years. But in his shop you will see furs and beaver glands hanging all over the place. Beaver glands are used in perfume making, in case you didn’t know. But the beaver pelts and the mink, fox, wolf and other furs are often preserved with salt rubbed in them – at least until they are sent to the processor. Salt preserves.