Salt and Sunshine

Which Way Lord? - Chapter 14 - by Dr Chandrakumar

SALT AND SUNSHINE

From the very beginning of history, men have set a high value on salt. A bag of salt among barbarians was worth more than a man. The ancient Germans gathered for worship in the salt districts and considered them the proper places to build their temples. In eastern countries, salt has been a symbol of friendship. To eat salt with another man is to accept his friendship. In Palestine they salted the newborn babies.

I. Qualities Of Salt

1. Salt Promotes

Salt promotes or enhances taste of all that it touches. Just imagine trying to eat a meal without salt. A king asked his three daughters how much they loved him. Two replied that they loved him better than silver and gold, but the third said, “Father I love you better than salt.” The king was very angry at such a comparison. The cook, who overheard the remark, left the salt out of the king’s breakfast. Only then did the King understand that his daughter loved him so much, that nothing was good without him. A person in Christ, is to the society what salt is to food. How is our Christian life? Does it add flavor to the lives of those around us and create in them a desire to have such a life through Jesus Christ?

2. Salt Penetrates

Salt penetrates into the food very quickly. We, like salt should have this penetrating quality, influencing others for Christ. Paul says, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in his triumph in Christ and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” (2 Cor. 2:14;15). This fragrance arises from our testimony for Christ.

3. Salt Preserves

It keeps the living from dying. Everyone needs it. Without salt a pigeon can live only three months and a dog only six months. Punishment for a prisoner was to gradually die without salt. Salt is very essential to human life. Neither man nor beast can live without salt. When Jesus said we should be like salt, he meant to say that Christians are as necessary to the world as salt is for men and animals.

4. Salt Purifies

In the ancient world, salt was connected with purity. So then, if a Christian is to be the salt of the earth, he must be an example of purity in speech, in conduct, in thought, word and deed (Phil. 4:8; Ps. 24:3,4).

Salt is composed of two poisonous substances, Sodium and Chlorine, either of which if taken individually would kill you. Some Christians are either Sodium or Chlorine they are dangerous to the society. Christian saltiness is Christian character as depicted in the beatitudes. A true Christian should have his Christ - Likeness as pure salt should have saltiness.

Salt is produced by the effect of heat and light of the Sun on the seawater. But inspite of the sun’s rays beating down on the sea throughout the year, salt is not produced unless the sea water is taken out of the sea and treated separately by the same sunshine. The sea can be compared to this world. As Christians we cannot become salt crystals as long as we are attached to this world, compromising with the worldly pattern of life. We are not of this world though we are in the world (Jn. 17:16). We must keep ourselves unstained by the world (James. 1:27).

5. Salt Is Powerful

If enough grains of salt are added to water it can lift objects. The concentration of salt in the Dead Sea is ten times higher than that of any other sea or lake in the world. Every liter of its seawater contains an average of 30 gms of salt and other minerals. The Dead Sea can easily float an egg or bear the weight of a man enough to keep him from drowning. Likewise we, as small grains of salt in this world, when united together in the oneness of his spirit can powerfully lift up the society for the Lord Jesus Christ.

To achieve this we Christians should first of all be ‘distinctive.’ Salt is essentially different from the medium into which it is put. Its power lies precisely in this difference. So it is, with the disciples of Jesus. All the Christians should be as different from other men in the world as the salt on a plate is different from the food into which it is added.

Drinking any amount of salty water can never quench the thirst of a man. Have we ever made any one thirsty for the Lord and thirst for the kind of joyful, peaceful and powerful life we live? So, we as the salt of the earth must use our seasoning, penetrating, preserving, lifting up and thirsting qualities to influence the world for Christ.

II. Three Rays Of Light

Science tells us that light is constituted of three rays distinct from each other. One ray cannot be called light without the other two. Each ray has its own function.

1. T

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