"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
This week, my pastor reminded us of the nature of salt, that salt preserves and flavors. Salt never really uses its saltiness, but the person who possesses it can choose not to use it, thus making it ineffective. It reminded me of two experiences I had when I was living in Israel in my travels to the Dead Sea, which is 33% salt.
There I saw huge white mounds of salt that had been freshly mined. Just sitting there, they were a sight to behold but useless. In another area, across the street from the sea, my driving friend stopped and walked us novices up to the desert cliffs that tower above the sea. We followed him through what seemed a hidden passageway and ended up inside a huge two-to-three story cave. The walls were white as crystal, made of salt. Light streamed in from an opening in the top, making the cave a natural crystal cathedral. Outside, the cliff wall was also salt but covered in dirt, its "glory" hidden.
Do you, like me, groan and moan over the beauty in the world--in humanity--that is being stolen and lost? "Merry Christmas" is now "Happy Holidays" or a Christmas party is now called a "Winter Party." Angry, murderous Hamas lovers fill the streets of large cities all over the world without any restraint.
We can give up and think "the world's gone to hell in a handbasket" (meaning something is rapidly deteriorating or is completely ruined) and think there's nothing we can do about it, OR we can be salt that preserves God's goodness and pushes back against evil's corruption, sprinkling salt along our way by speaking God's encouraging words of truth and comfort wherever we encounter the negative influences of evil. (Read the next blog to see how powerful a sprinkle of salt or flash of light can be.)
This week, my pastor reminded us of the nature of salt, that salt preserves and flavors. Salt never really uses its saltiness, but the person who possesses it can choose not to use it, thus making it ineffective. It reminded me of two experiences I had when I was living in Israel in my travels to the Dead Sea, which is 33% salt.
There I saw huge white mounds of salt that had been freshly mined. Just sitting there, they were a sight to behold but useless. In another area, across the street from the sea, my driving friend stopped and walked us novices up to the desert cliffs that tower above the sea. We followed him through what seemed a hidden passageway and ended up inside a huge two-to-three story cave. The walls were white as crystal, made of salt. Light streamed in from an opening in the top, making the cave a natural crystal cathedral. Outside, the cliff wall was also salt but covered in dirt, its "glory" hidden.
Do you, like me, groan and moan over the beauty in the world--in humanity--that is being stolen and lost? "Merry Christmas" is now "Happy Holidays" or a Christmas party is now called a "Winter Party." Angry, murderous Hamas lovers fill the streets of large cities all over the world without any restraint.
We can give up and think "the world's gone to hell in a handbasket" (meaning something is rapidly deteriorating or is completely ruined) and think there's nothing we can do about it, OR we can be salt that preserves God's goodness and pushes back against evil's corruption, sprinkling salt along our way by speaking God's encouraging words of truth and comfort wherever we encounter the negative influences of evil. (Read the next blog to see how powerful a sprinkle of salt or flash of light can be.)