What does salt and light have in common?
That is the question.
Let’s look at the benefits of salt and light, before we answer that question.
At a very basic level, SALT enhances flavor of some foods. Many of us would not want to THINK about eating food with “no salt” at all. In fact, some of us enjoy salt so much that we overdo it!
Before refrigeration, salt was essential for food preservation. Without the salt, those foods would go bad very quickly. It is the salt that makes it possible for food to last for months and years. Simply put, salt keeps food from “spoiling.” Unfortunately, in today’s world, we see food preservation more in the form of processed packaged foods than anything else.
Medicinally, salt is used to maintain health, because it helps fights against infection and brings healing to wounds.
In its most natural form, LIGHT comes from the sun, moon, and stars.
Without these celestial lights, we would be in TOTAL DARKNESS. The MORE LIGHT we have, the MORE CLEARLY we can SEE! Light reveals what has been hidden by darkness.
We could not even SURVIVE or EXIST without light!
Even if we COULD, we still wouldn’t be able to see our hands in front of our faces, let alone know where we’d BEEN, where we WERE, where we were HEADING, or WHEN we got “there.”
It is the light from the sun that allows plants to produce its food to in order to grow. As a result, the plants generate oxygen as a byproduct, which obviously benefits all other living things. Without oxygen, we would die…ALL living things would die!
So, without sunlight, there would also be no vegetation (ie. grass, flowers, trees, fruits, or vegetables).
Furthermore, many of us recognize that we feel so much better on bright sunny days as oppose to cloudy or rainy days. Research has proven that sunlight helps alleviate depression and brings more positive energy.
So back to the question…
What could salt and light POSSIBLY have in common?
Salt and light have been present since before mankind was created. They were both established, by the Creator himself, during the creation of the world.
As we have discovered above, there is evidence when salt or light is present. Because of its EFFECT, that evidence CAN NOT BE MISSED! We know when salt is present in food. We know when ANY source of light is in a dark room. Salt and light both make a profound difference whenever they are used or wherever they are present.
Today, salt and light are both taken for granted. They are often underestimated, unappreciated, or misused. In addition, the original purpose and benefits of them have been largely ignored.
For example, we have many forms of manmade “artificial” light now. So, we don’t really appreciate the natural sunlight…until the power goes out!
Salt has primarily been misused to create unhealthy processed, manmade foods, with a long shelf life, in order to enhance profits while adversely affecting health.
Yet, salt and light are both ESSENTIAL to life!!
Last…. but certainly not least,
let’s consider a final commonality between salt and light…
In the word, God says that his people are the SALT of the EARTH and the LIGHT of the WORLD.
Matt. 5:13-15 (NIV)
13 “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.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
So, what’s the point? What is the bottom line?
We can NOT afford to lose our saltiness OR hide our lights!
Just like SALT, Christians should PRESERVE the things of God, the Creator of ALL! We should preserve his character of LOVE among mankind, because we are imitators of Christ; Christlike. We should also preserve the Word of God, as we live it out in our daily lives.
Christian- adj. Exhibiting a spirit proper to a follower of Jesus Christ; Christlike. (Dictionary.com)
We should also have joy, peace, and a genuine smile that is visible and contagious. It will BRING HEALING to those with heavy hearts as they recognize that they do INDEED have HOPE and begin to desire to know the source of your joy. We must share the GOOD NEWS of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others!
We can also lift up fellow Christians, who are temporarily experiencing discouragement and disappointment because of this sinful world. As humans, we can get off track from time to time. However, it is through the community of believers that we PRESERVE the Fruits of the Spirit, so that we can continue to share them with others. We must not let them go extinct!
“Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God.” Ps. 146:5
Just like LIGHT, we must reveal the path that leads to Christ and His righteousness. As we begin to let our lights shine, total darkness can NOT remain. Please know that Satan wants us all to be lost! He wants to cover the true path with leaves and boulders (distractions and deception) and lead you down a different path all together…A path that leads to ETERNAL DESTRUCTION! He wants you to keep your light hidden under a bushel, so that no one can find their way back home to our Heavenly Father. However, like the familiar song says, “This little light of MINE, I’m gonna LET IT SHINE!” This is the anthem of God’s people!
In John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE: no man cometh unto the Father, but by ME.
Then, he tells us, in Matt. 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Last but not least, just like SALT and LIGHT, our presence should benefit others. We should reach out to those who are less fortunate and do what we CAN do to help ease their pain and suffering. We should participate and contribute to the cause of CHRIST within our churches, communities, and abroad. We should walk with integrity, exhibiting trustworthiness, respect, and gentleness, which is so hard to find in this day and time. In this way, we will be an example to others as we lead people to the ONLY HOPE there is and the answer to EVERY problem.. our LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST!!
