 |
 |
Dripping Springs Weekly Bulletins
SALT and LIGHT
There are physical elements in our cosmos capable of penetrating almost any substance. They serve a purpose in the household, in the kitchen and in the shop.
When Jesus sought to portray the degree of penetration Christians should attain in their community, He used two of the most permeating substances in the world – salt and light. In His Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew 5-7, Jesus made it clear that being His disciple would not be a private, benign choice, but would result in reaching into every home, city, nation, environment and culture. Note His words at that time:
“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 be trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand; and it gives light to all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven,” Matthew 5:13-16.
Why did He use salt and light as the means of describing the task before us? Because of their nature they permeate and penetrate the entire area in which they exist.
SALT GIVES FLAVOR TO LIFE
Sit down to an unseasoned plate of black-eyed peas with cornbread and you will quickly reach for the salt. It brings out the flavor of food.
You find salt in some unexpected places. Look at a book of recipes and note how many include salt.
When a Christian lives in a city or community, he/she can lend flavor to that community, making life more pleasant for all. We should be a joy for neighbors, for teachers and local business-people. Folks should be glad to see us coming because we can elevate the quality of their life from one that is insipid to one that is worth living.
SALT PREVENTS CORRUPTION
Salt also is well known for its ability to prevent food from going bad. In that sense, salt is “aseptic,” not purifying that which is already corrupt, but preventing corruption from taking place.
We all know people in whose presence it is natural to be good and to do good. Filthy stories are not told in their presence. Sin is not countenanced. The Roman world considered salt a symbol of purity, and to our generation, Christians can also represent pure living, pure speech and pure hearts.
WORTHLESS SALT
A Christian should be to life what salt is to food, but too often that is not the case. We can arrive at the point at which we no longer give life the flavor of Christ, and instead of representing purity we fall back into ways more characteristic of Satan’s followers than Christ’s.
At that point, we are no longer useful to God, others or ourselves. We are, as Jesus said, only worthy of being “thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” Let this be a warning: Let’s live up to our calling!
LIGHT ALLOWS SIGHT
While Jesus was on earth, He was the “light of the world,” John 9:5. Today, Christians can be that light, reflecting the light of the very Son of God. Darkness often is used figuratively to illustrate wickedness, and light for righteousness (1 John 1-2, Ephesians 5:8 and Isaiah 5:20).
We are so accustomed to light’s availability that we may take it for granted. A candle, a flashlight, both are able to dispel darkness when light is needed. A Christian should light the way for those who are seeking God’s Truth.
LIGHT WARNS OF DANGER
Modern technology has almost relegated the ancient lighthouse to the tourist shops. Once, they were the only way a ship could be made aware of the rocks on the shore. It saved many a sailor in those more primitive times.
A similar responsibility is given to every Christian, to warn others of dangers threatening us on this old earth. That is exactly why we were given that “Great Commission,” to make mankind aware of Satan’s devices, warn us of dangers to our soul, and provide answers to those issues. Salt! Light! That’s us.
HOWEVER…..
What happens when there is too much salt in the peas? That’s not good, is it? What about that car’s headlights that are so bright that we cannot focus on our path? That’s not good either.
We must be the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world.” but when our doing so calls attention to ourselves instead of the Lord who called us by His Word, we have turned things upside down and our influence is diminished. Any glory that accrues is the Lord’s, not mine.
We all have a wonderful privilege, that of calling others to the joys of being children of God. Salt and Light, that’s us. You and me.
|
|
|
|
“Men do not praise the street lamps which protect them from robbery and assault, but they praise the municipal administration which furnishes the lamps.”
“Take heed that you do not your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them: otherwise you have no reward from your Father which is in heaven.”
|
|
|
|
|
The Law and the Gospel
God gave the “old covenant” (i.e., “the law of Moses”) to the nation of Israel upon Mt. Sinai. This is readily apparent from reading Exodus 19-20, Deuteronomy 4-6 and Nehemiah 9, and numerous other Scriptures that could be cited. It was god’s law, given to Israel only, to govern them until the promise made to Abraham be fulfilled in the coming of Christ. Read Gen. 22:18 and Galatians 3:6-8, 16-29.
The teachings of the New Testament make a number of things concerning “the law” and “the gospel” exceedingly plain:
- The law was given through Moses, he being the mediator of it, John 1:17 and Galatians 3:19.
- The “new covenant” of grace and truth came through Jesus Christ, of which He is the Mediator. Read again John 1:17 and Heb. 8:6-8.
- Jesus came to fulfill “the law,” Matthew 5:17. And He did, Luke 24:44.
- Jesus was born “under the law,” Galatians 4:4. But in giving His life on the cross, He made redemption possible for those under the law’s curse of condemnation and offered salvation to the Gentile peoples also, that all men might obtain the remission of sins. Read Galatians 3:11-13, Galatians 4:5, Hebrews 10:1-18, Romans 7:4, 7-13, Romans 8:1-3 and Colossians 3:13-14.
- The law of Moses was not perfect because there was no provision for the forgiveness of sins, but the “new covenant” (i.e., the “gospel of grace and truth”) made that GREAT provision through the atoning sacrifice of Christ! Read Hebrews 8:6-13 and all of chapter 9. Read also Romans 3:19-25.
- The law of Moses was given because of transgressions, and to teach the terribleness of sin and man’s helpless condition in sin, and to point people toward Jesus Christ as the Deliverer from sin! Read Romans 7:7-25a; Romans 5:20-21; Romans 6:1-18; Galatians 3:19-29; Ephesians 2:11-17; 1 John 4:9-10, etc.
- Certainly we should, even today, study the Old Testament Scriptures because we can learn much from them to help us understand God’s will for humankind, and to appreciate what Christ has done for us. Read Rom. 15:4; Gal. 3:24; 1 Cor. 10:11; 2 Tim. 2:15 and 3:14-17.
But no one today is under the law of Moses. They may think they are, but they are not. By it no one can be justified, Romans 3:20 and Galatians 3:11,21. God has only ONE covenant with anyone today, and that is the NEW COVENANT of grace and truth. Those who put their trust in God and accept His offer of mercy and forgiveness offered through the new covenant by obedience to His will, become His people. Read Titus 2:14 and 1 Peter 2:9. The invitation is to all. “Whosoever will, let him come…” Read Matthew 11:28-30 and Revelation 22:17. The gospel is God’s power to save, Romans 1:16.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
