The Salt and The Light

Matthew 5: 13,14 “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 by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 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. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven”

This is a very familiar passage, isn’t it? We grew up hearing this and by-hearting this! But recently God taught me something different about the Salt and the Light which I would love to share with you.

Each time I used to say, “You are the light of the world” I taught myself that I should be the light of the world. And the same applied for “You are the salt of the earth”. Have you done the same? But did you notice that it was an ‘are’ there and not a ‘should be’? We are made the light of the world. We are made the salt of the earth. Yes, we are born useful. 

The thing about Salt and Light is they need not do anything to show who they are. They just need to be there. The moment light enters the room, everyone knows its there. The moment salt is added unto the dish, the taste shows its there. Yes, our very presence shows off. All we have to do is to keep shining and stay salty! Let the world see Him, when they see us. Let them hear Him, when we speak!

Not only does our presence show our identity but also changes the world around us. All that Light has to do is go into the dark and darkness flees! All that the salt needs to do is to be present in the dish and the taste of the dish changes! No matter how dark or tasteless your surrounding appears to be, it will change. Just be you! Know, you are contagious by birth! J

One more thing that is different about the Salt and the Light is that they themselves are useless. Light in itself is invisible, but we can’t see a thing without light. I haven’t heard of anyone who loves eating salt, but can’t imagine food without salt. You get the point? We are born to be useful. If we think, ‘Me, My life and My carrier matters’, we are not fulfilling our purpose. Neither are we shining nor are we making our situations salty! It is your choice. Are you saying, ‘just because I am made salt I can’t make you salty!’ ‘Oh yes, I am light, but I am not going to shine on you and let people see you!’ Bible says, if you lose your saltiness you are no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled by men. And what use is light for, if it is going to hide under a bowl and say, I need my light for myself!? Know that the world needs You! It is saltless and in darkess without You!

Verse 16 says, “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Be You and glorify Him!