Salt and Light
There was a time when Europe was completely pagan. However, a wave of missionaries and evangelists brought the Gospel of Jesus Christ—the message of grace, acceptance, and love—and Christianity spread beautifully across the continent. Over time, though, the people drifted away from the faith that had saved them. The culture regressed, leading to an entire continent that embraced secularism—a society that felt no need for God.
This same trend can be observed in the United States, where a nation once founded on Judeo-Christian principles is becoming increasingly secularized. The tide is moving further and further away.
While Jesus ministered on earth in a hostile environment, He warned His followers that they would be “sheep surrounded by wolves” (Matthew 10:16). To navigate such an environment successfully, He emphasized the importance of being as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves. As Christians, we need to be aware and not naive; we must constantly remind ourselves that we are surrounded by individuals who, if given the chance, would seek to eliminate Christianity just as rapidly as Herod attempted to destroy it on that first Christmas night.
Though written by the apostle Paul over 2000 years ago, Romans chapter one can also apply to our day. Here Paul mentions over two dozen brazen sins that his society had given themselves over to,
As a result, “God gave them up” (v. 24), “God gave them up” (v. 26), and “God gave them over to…” (v. 28).
None of the sins mentioned are unfamiliar to us. Their twisted morality is emblazoned on screens, books, and magazines daily. What once slinked in back alleys now parade down Main Street.
As followers of Christ, it’s crucial for us to distance ourselves from such characteristics. However, God expects us to stand against all forms of godlessness. We are called to be the salt and light in a corrupt and dark world.
We Are to Be Salt
One day, Jesus looked into the eyes of His disciples, who were seated before Him on the side of a mountain, and said, “Even though you live in a morally corrupt world, you are the salt of the earth!” (Matthew 5:13). We are the world’s only hope. The most powerful agents of change in this world are not the government, the military, entertainers, or industry leaders. No, the most powerful agent of change is Christ’s church—people committed to doing His will. The Message Bible expresses this clearly, stating that when we lose our saltiness, “You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.””
In Jesus’ day, long before refrigeration existed, if a fisherman caught a large quantity of fish and needed to transport it from Capernaum to Jerusalem—a distance of about 120 miles—he would salt it to prevent spoilage during the journey. He would rub the salt into the flesh of the fish, ensuring it penetrated deeply, thus preserving and protecting it.
This serves as a metaphor for how we should live our lives. We are called to infuse our culture with the salt and light of the gospel so that those around us can witness the power of God within us and be drawn to Christ.
We Are to Be Light
On that same day, on that same hillside, during that same conversation Jesus gave to his disciples another metaphor for living. Not only are you to be salt in this world you are to be light.
Matthew 5:14,” You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
As followers of Jesus Christ, we have the incredible opportunity to radiate a bold presence that glorifies God, the ultimate ruler. Let’s stand proudly like a city on a hill, shining brightly like candles on a lamp stand. Our lives should illuminate the world around us, reflecting the light of God’s presence in us. Together, we can inspire others and demonstrate the joy and hope that comes from walking in faith.
Let us adopt the attitude of John the Baptist, whose life was completely devoted to Christ. The desire of his heart was, “I must decrease, but he must increase” (John 3:30). We create more space for the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives by making less room for ourselves.
We all aspire to influence the world; let us begin by impacting our surroundings and not allowing them to influence us.
The Best Is Yet to Be!!
Dr. Robert Bryant.