Salt and Light: God’s Command For Us in a Broken World

When people think about you, what do you hope they would say?

A few months ago, our church community experienced a devastating loss when a young man named Aaron suddenly went to be with the Lord. Not only was he a dedicated husband and father, but he was a great friend and a phenomenal, world-renowned drummer.

As news spread of his passing, so did the sentiments of those who knew him. (Because he played drums for high-profile artists, word got around fast.) And while each expressed thought was as unique as Aaron’s relationship with each person, one common theme surfaced: that he was a light in every place he existed.

Because I have known Aaron most of his life as he grew up with my own children, I can, without a doubt, agree that there is no other way to describe him – he was an extraordinary light.

God’s Solution For a Broken World

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power.”

- 2 Timothy 3:1-5a, NKJV

Our world is increasingly becoming darker each day as we have become witness to raging wars and hate crimes. Our communities are infiltrated with societal injustices. Our families have become influenced by social media and distractions of self. And unfortunately, the church is not exempt from worldly sway – false doctrine is on the move, leading more and more people astray.

So, how can we stand firm in our convictions and God’s truth? Well, we must shine a little brighter. When we are living for Jesus and allow Him to guide our lives, we can become His bearers of hope to a world that has none.

Bearing the Hope of Jesus

Throughout the New Testament, Jesus teaches us and leads by example of what it means to be a bearer of hope. Yet in His Sermon on the Mount, He relates with us in a way that applies to everyone, no matter who you are or where you are in the world.

Salt of the World

One of my favorite things to bake is sweet potato pie. My mama used to make it, and in my season of being a new wife and young mother, it was a tradition I wanted to continue with my growing family. I remember making this pie one day, and I became frustrated because it just didn’t taste right. So I asked Mama, “What am I doing wrong?” Tasting it, she said, “Baby, you need a little bit of salt; go get me some salt and some salted butter.” She shared this secret, and ever since, my pie has tasted just the way my mama intended the recipe to.

Throughout His life, Jesus knew the perfect amount of saltiness to add to the world, and He invites us to learn from him as well.

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”

- Matthew 5:13, NKJV

So, what does it mean to be the salt of the earth?

God wants us to bring a flavor to the world that makes it thirst for Jesus. When we radiate excitement and assurance in the consistency of a loving God, it causes people to take notice!

Sadly, it is common for Christians to lose their saltiness by way of routine and boredom. We go to church on Sunday and go through the motions. We read our Bibles in the morning and, by lunch, have forgotten what we read. We pray when we remember and only for the things we need at the moment. In the mundane of doing what we should do, we become indifferent, dull, and bland.

Jesus tells us that if we lose our saltiness, we are good for nothing in the kingdom of heaven. Does that mean He will get rid of us? No, but God will use someone else to carry out the divine purpose He planned for your life.

Don’t get complacent. Be intentional in the things God has planned for you. Seek Him, invite Him into your life, and allow Jesus to season your life with salt.

Light of the World

This past holiday season, I was preparing my home to make room for my Christmas tree. Well, this process involves a strenuous remodel of my living spaces because the tree has to be in just the right spot, right? After I moved my heavy couches and shuffled some tables around, I looked at the arrangement, and something just didn’t feel right. Then, it dawned on me: I needed more light! So I gathered three lamps from three separate rooms, and once I set them in their place in my parlor and turned them on, the room looked just how I wanted it to. The light made all the difference in the world.

““You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.”

- Matthew 5:14-15, NKJV

Did you know that Jesus is waiting for you to turn on your light so that a difference can be made in the world? We live in a world that is filled with darkness. People are blindly grasping for paths and solutions that can only be revealed when the light is turned on.

In this time and culture, many Christians are shielding our lights. We are hiding our prayers in public. We cautiously tip-toe around the topic of Jesus in conversations because of a fear of rejection. We don’t invite people to church because we are sensitive to what they may think. Dear one, don’t hide the light of Jesus; reveal him to the world and let it shine.

Because where there is light, darkness must dissipate.

Our Call to Be a Light

Matthew 5:16, NKJV says, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Here, we see a significant shift in Jesus’ language from metaphors to how we should live to a commandment to be His light toward all men.

Why does Jesus say we are to be a light to the world? So others may see your good works.

The Greek meaning for the phrase good works in this passage doesn’t encompass the deeds you accomplish. It is all about your moral excellence. It is how well you demonstrate righteousness from sin – what is right and wrong. It is a living example of your integrity.

Every day, we commute, work, and talk with others who are aware of our responses. The world is observing how we make decisions, respond to someone who is unkind, and choose to speak in conversations. Jesus commands us to live in such a way that points our hearts, speech, and actions back to Him.

When we are passionate about bringing the flavor of heaven and the illumination of Christ to the world, lives will be changed, ours included. When people around us are living without hope, we can point them back to the Father through how we pray, the sharing of our testimonies, the generosity of our resources to those who are downtrodden, and our acknowledgment that God is the very essence of who we are.

So, friends, let us go out and be His salt and light to a bland, dark world.

For more on being the salt and light of the world, check out Trina’s message here.