Taste of Salt

Sometimes a cook works very hard to prepare the greatest meal ever eaten. But when their guests take the first bite they want to spit it out. The horrified cook soon realizes that their enemy has quietly slipped in the kitchen and dumped excessive salt into the food. However, in the case of this sinful world, God has asked us to be the salt or the seasoning that is lacking. This world does not have a good taste because sin makes it taste awful where righteousness is not present. We know that salt is actually necessary to life just as godliness is necessary. It is very important that the right amount of salt be used because either excess or insufficiency will cause harm. Jesus said that Christians were to be the salt of the world. We know that the world taste so awful that it will be thrown away in the future. However, when our righteous life is used to influence others we become the seasoning that can change the flavor of life. Of course, it is the righteousness of Christ that the Spirit brings into our life when we seek it. Being the salt of the earth requires the right kind of heart in us.

In the days of old when people got together for a fellowship meal they would pass around the salt of peace. In fact, they would sometimes refer to this meal as “having salt together”. We can make the case that part of our righteous life includes bringing peace with us to all situations. Also back in those days salt was a symbol of the eternal covenant. Many of the Israelite sacrifices had to have salt applied to them before being given to God. The Old Testament symbols are important to us because we are now the salt. Jesus said; Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Luke 14:34-35 (NLT) Flavorless salt of a Christian is their own actions without the leading of the Holy Spirit. Our salt begins to lose its flavor when worldly things are mixed with it. When a believer is serving God full time the worldly things that spoil our saltiness will leave our life. Remember, if we want to be pure salt there will be a cost for it. Are we willing to pay the price?

Being salt in this world is all about the Christian life that we are leading. The Scripture says; you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring. If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. James 3:12-13 (NLT) This is a description of the life that God uses to season the world with. This verse says there are Christians that are wise and understand God’s ways but have not proved it yet. We are not salt until the actions of our life have become a seasoning in this world. Every Christian will be tested in order to find out the purity of their good deeds. Jesus said; You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden… In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matt 5:13-16 (NLT) When we become the salt of the earth our life will shine and it will bring glory to our Heavenly Father.

Good deeds that are done with a peaceful loving attitude are much different than the hand-out lines of the world. The seasoning of a Christian can reach deep down inside of the recipient. Our godly lives are a necessary ingredient for proper good works. Paul said; Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. Col 4:5-6 (KJV) Our speech is a big thing in seasoning the world because it reflects what is inside of us. Keeping the salt pure is important to good seasoning and John knew this when he said; We do know that we will be like him,(Jesus) for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure. 1 John 3:2-3 (NLT) We have the opportunity to live the greatest life on earth. This life will cost us worldly pleasures and will include some testing. However, the rewards are beyond fantastic and our good deeds will bring glory to God. By the way, God’s salt will preserve our life for eternity.