“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 underfoot.” (NIV.)
Introduction
Salt is a very precious commodity, especially during ancient times. It was so important that Traders were willing to travel hundreds of miles to buy and sell salt. Salt mining today is very dangerous; in fact there is a metaphor that people often like to use, “back to the salt mines” inferring that your workplace is somehow like a dangerous salt mine where lowly prisoners or the extremely unpaid labor both day and night.
In the ancient salt mines salt had to be mined by hand with picks and shovels and was very corrosive to the body, during this time life expectancy for miners was very short. Because of this, the salt was very expensive and extremely rare. Salt mining today involves the high technology of what is known as “Deep-shaft mining” today salt is harvested through solar evaporation from seawater or salt lakes which should give us an idea of just how important salt is in the world today, because people go through great lengths to obtain this particular white substance or compound. And so it is no small compliment when Jesus calls you and I, “The Salt of the Earth.”
He is saying to us that we are of great worth and reliability. We are or we should be devoted, loyal, earnest, and honest. The kind of person who lives a life that should be emulated by others, thus a role model to and for the world. You may have heard someone while introducing another say, “He or she is the ‘salt of the earth.’ What a wonderful compliment to receive! However, when Jesus says ‘you are the salt of the earth’ at the same time He is also acknowledging the fact that the earth is in need of seasoning. I cannot tell a lie, and most certainly while I am standing behind this pulpit—I love salt on almost everything I eat. If anyone should follow me after church on Sunday you may come to the conclusion that the old stereo-type of Baptist preachers loving fried chicken must be true. But I refuse to eat fried chicken, fried fish, or french fries unless I have access to a salt shaker. I need a little pepper too, but not as much as I need my salt.
I know too much salt is not good for you—but for sure salt is my number one favorite seasoning. Why? Because I’ve discovered when I use salt during my breakfast, lunch, and dinner moments –it changes things. It enhances my dining experience, it adds more flavor to my meal, thus making my meal more enjoyable. There is so much in this parable, but the main idea I believe is distinctiveness. There is something different about salt when compared to the other compounds. There is something different both by nature, and by purpose.
Salt Has Power
When Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth” He is speaking of our conduct and character while yet living in this sin-cursed world. He is saying we are different or we ought to be different and live different than the rest of the world. Because as a Christian our character is just salt, and our conduct is also just like salt—salt is not like the compounds. We are not like the world, we don’t enjoy or at least we shouldn’t enjoy everything that the world enjoys. In fact, not only are you called salt, you are even designed (made) to be the salt of the earth. And I don’t know about you but like being called salt by Jesus. I heard someone say that He was not speaking to us; He was speaking to His disciples. My answer to this is—we are His disciples! We’re not Peter, James, and John but we are still His disciples as long as we live by His Words, “If You Abide in My Word, You are My Disciples Indeed”—John 8: 31. Therefore, I love the fact that Jesus calls those of us who love Him—salt. I love it because it gives us distinction and it also gives us power. Have you ever considered the power of salt? The power of salt derives from its difference. One of the differences is the healing power in salt, it has two elements sodium and chloride, and thus salt is also known as sodium chloride. Salt is important to our health because body cells must have salt in order to live and work, it has antiseptic or germ killing properties. Believe or not the world, the unbelievers are able to live on this earth because of those of us who are the salt of the earth, for example, if there had been one righteous person found, Sodom and Gomorrah would have been spared.
Salt therapy has proven particularly effective in treating patients with respiratory and obstructive airway illnesses. Salt particles kill pathogenic microorganisms by dehydrating microbial cells, soothing inflammation. Salt is also used in the treatment in various skin diseases. Jesus knew very well how important salt was to our lives. And so there is power in salt—no wonder Jesus says, “Ye are the salt of the earth…” When Jesus says ‘ye are the salt of the earth…” He’s talking about the difference we have from the world, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that are in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” –1 John 2: 15 – 16.
Salt Preserves
Another reason I love being called the salt of the earth is because salt preserves. I have always been amazed that before the refrigerator became common household appliance, salt was a popular food preservative. This process is still used in many products, including bacon, ham, pickles, and jerky. Salt kills bacteria and molds, I was told that my grandfather and great grandfather regularly used salt to preserve meat in a storage room on their farm out in the country, and as a child it completely fasinated me that salt was so useful. Likewise we are called to preserve, we are called to preserve through stewartship, we are to preserve what God has established here on earth. In this world, God calls us to preserve and protect. He gives us field and flower, animal, vegetable, and mineral to use for our benefit…but always with the qualification that we do not harm others through our living. Always with the reminder that we are living in community, and that our actions impacts the world around us. He calls us preserve what is written in His Word.
The world and the devil want to turn God’s Word around and call what is good bad, and what is bad good. Look at today’s terrible issues if you don’t believe me, issues such as same-sex marriage, pedophilia in organized religion, and abortion on demand. If you dare mention what is written in God’s Word concerning homosexuality you will instantly become a bigot in the eyes of many people in America today, here in Houston a couple of street preachers were jail because of preaching against it. Many people who don’t want to have any children claim that their body belongs to them and they can do with it as they please. They are completely overlooking the fact that our bodies regardless of who we are belong to God. “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies” –1 Corinthians 6: 19 – 20.
The world is full of spiritual bacteria and mold; in other words, the world is full of corruption and we as salt the of the earth are not to be a part of it. 1 Peter 1: 23 says, “having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.”
In other words, we are born again by the Word of God. As the salt of the earth we have been spiritually born again and spiritually made over. We are brand new, we have a brand new walk and a brand new talk; a brand new way of doing things. We are not born again of a corruptible seed because if that were the case we would still be abusive, self-seeking, hypocritical, snobbish, arrogant, deceptive, angry, prideful, bitter, hateful, and neglectful. We are, the salt of the earth are born of an incorruptible seed that never perishes. We are called by God to preserve in order to keep the world from corruption.
Salt Penetrates And Adds Flavor
Salt penetrates, spreads all about and flavors. It inserts a new quality, substance, and life. It can take bland, tasteless food and make it enjoyable. A sprinkle of salt has a widespread effect. It changes that which it is put upon. We who are the salt of the earth likewise penetrate and add flavor to the world for Christ. We are given the ability to take that which bland and tasteless and insert a new quality into the lives of those who were once lost but now are found. True believers salt those in the world with God’s Word, and encourage whosoever will to “Taste and see that the Lord is good…” (Psalm 34: 8), to taste His goodness and see His goodness. No one can taste His goodness without having a taste for Him. And just like when Phillip asked the eunuch if he understood what he was reading—there are people in the world today still responding as the eunuch responded, “How can I, except some man (or woman) should guide me?”(emphasis mine) The salt of the earth are guides commissioned by the Lord.
Salt enhances flavor by suppressing bitterness, and the best way to suppress bitterness is through God’s Word. I could remember being bitter about the way someone treated me, but when I spoke with a fellow salt of the earth he reminded me through the Word that bitterness hurts me more than the one who caused my bitterness. The salt of the earth penetrates darkness and infiltrates the world with God’s love and values so the world might know His goodness, His grace and His mercy. Jesus already left us with a great commission, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” –Matthew 28: 19
When Jesus speaks of “all nations” it is not necessarily all nations in the geographical sense of the word. All nations means people, it means whosoever will come. Go to all nations and evangelize them. Not only are we to ‘go’ we are also instructed to ‘make disciples’ out of them—penetrate, spread and saturate the good news all about and all around—go to the highways (urban) and hedges (rural) and compel people to come, let them know that society deteriorates and crumbles when it neglects the teachings and commandments of Jesus. Let them know that salvation if free and “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them (the salt of the earth) that heard him;”—Hebrews 2: 3. (emphasis mine)
Conclusion
We, the salt of the earth are always to remain useful—because there is a danger of becoming useless and destructive. Salt does not lose flavor but this does not mean that impurities such as dirt and sand cannot mix in and contaminate the salt. Ask any chemist worth his or her salt, if salt can become contaminated and he or she will tell that salt will not lose its savor with age, savor is lost through mixture and contamination. When Christians who were once the salt of the earth mix with things of the world they become useless and contaminated, they ruin their testimony with things such as sexual immorality,the love of money, profanity, alcohol, drugs and other dangerous sustances.
“If you lose your saltiness, how could you be made salty again?” Repentance! True repentance is the answer to this question. Cleanliness, truth, and goodness have always been and will ever be the watchwords of we, the “salt of the earth.” I love being called the salt of the earth by Jesus Christ and I will wear it as a badge of honor. Amen.
