Salt and Light
I am just about finished with "Lord, Only You Can Change Me" by Kay Arthur. In Chapter Nine, she talks about what it means to be salt and light and challenges the reader to examine their own life and their impact on the lives of others. After exploring the Sermon on the Mount, she writes about our role as salt and light:
Salt and light, that's what we're supposed to be. And if we are not...what then?
Jesus said: "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden" (Matthew 5:13-14).
Salt and light -- two metaphors -- following a series of "blesseds." Their purpose is highly significant...
Later in the chapter, she offers the example of Lot's life.
From 2 Peter 2 we see that Lot believed God and was apparently considered righteous by God, for God could not destroy Sodom until Lot left the city.
He was righteous...but it seems he had lost his salt.
Lot lived in Sodom but refused to partake in the city's evil deeds. Yet what kind of an impact did he have upon Sodom? Why was he living there? How had he obtained a position of respectability? Apparently by compromising and keeping his mouth shut! His life did not have a righteous impact upon those with whom he lived! His term "brother" appears to denote a tolerance and acceptance of these evil men.
Genesis 19:9 seems to imply that until this time Lot had neither opposed his neighbors nor called them to accountability for their actions. Lot's words to his sons-in-law apparently carried very little weight. When he tried to warn them of the approaching judgment, they thought it was a joke!
In Ephesians 5:11 the Lord tells us through Paul, "And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them." Not only had Lot failed to be "salty salt," he had also hidden God's light of truth under a basket. Although he did not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, he apparently did not expose them! How can you sit at the gate and be a popular man when you expose the sins of those with whom you live? The two cannot possibly go together.
Lot was saved, but he had no witness among those with whom he lived, no effect upon his society, and very little influence with his own family. He had lost his salt. His life did not create a thirst for God among his neighbors.
Why is there so much corruption around us, Beloved? Is it because we have failed to be the salt of the earth? Statistics show that multiple millions of American Christians have not even registered to vote! Is that being salty salt?
...Do you, as Ephesians 5 says, expose the unfruitful deeds of darkness? Do you stand firm against all the attacks of the enemy, Satan, or are you ignorant of his methods and devices?
...How I pray that God will speak to you in a very clear way so that your life will not be worthless, cast out, and trodden under foot of men in mockery.
George Truett once said, "You are either being corrupted by the world or you are salting it." There is no middle ground.
As I read these words, I could not help but reflect on this past year and the exposure of wrong that I have witnessed in certain situations. I know God's hand has been at work in and through the lives of individuals who have refused to embrace apathy, tolerance and injustice. Although they have not increased their popularity with all people by taking such a bold stand, I believe they have been used by God.
It is not enough to withdraw from the world and refrain from partaking in the unfruitful deeds of darkness. Darkness must be exposed. We must be a light in the darkness. But before we can truly do that with any effectiveness, we must have light shined on the darkness of our own hearts. And we have to ask God to show us what He sees when He looks at our hearts. It's not the most comfortable experience when God answers this prayer. I can tell you that from experience. But it is the only way to be changed.
The more I grow toward God and allow His light to shine on me, the more I despair of my condition. The truth is, I am never what I want to be for God. I fall short every day. Growing and maturing in Christ exposes to us our fallen condition and brings us to our knees in repentance, it does not make us feel good about ourselves. I loved something I read recently. It was this quote from Mike Ratliff (my emphasis added):
God is good my brethren. The marvels of conviction of sin, forgiveness, and holiness are so interwoven that it is only the forgiven who are holy. He or she proves they are forgiven by their transformed life by God’s grace. When God grants repentance it always brings the believer to confess, “I have sinned!” When a believer does this and means it then we know that God is at work in that heart. The cleansed life will manifest itself in conscious repentance and unconscious holiness. Never forget my brethren that conscious holiness leads to self-righteousness. We must focus on walking in repentance. God will grow us in holiness.
Salt and light, that's what we're supposed to be. And if we are not...what then?
Jesus said: "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden" (Matthew 5:13-14).
Salt and light -- two metaphors -- following a series of "blesseds." Their purpose is highly significant...
Later in the chapter, she offers the example of Lot's life.
From 2 Peter 2 we see that Lot believed God and was apparently considered righteous by God, for God could not destroy Sodom until Lot left the city.
He was righteous...but it seems he had lost his salt.
Lot lived in Sodom but refused to partake in the city's evil deeds. Yet what kind of an impact did he have upon Sodom? Why was he living there? How had he obtained a position of respectability? Apparently by compromising and keeping his mouth shut! His life did not have a righteous impact upon those with whom he lived! His term "brother" appears to denote a tolerance and acceptance of these evil men.
Genesis 19:9 seems to imply that until this time Lot had neither opposed his neighbors nor called them to accountability for their actions. Lot's words to his sons-in-law apparently carried very little weight. When he tried to warn them of the approaching judgment, they thought it was a joke!
In Ephesians 5:11 the Lord tells us through Paul, "And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them." Not only had Lot failed to be "salty salt," he had also hidden God's light of truth under a basket. Although he did not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, he apparently did not expose them! How can you sit at the gate and be a popular man when you expose the sins of those with whom you live? The two cannot possibly go together.
Lot was saved, but he had no witness among those with whom he lived, no effect upon his society, and very little influence with his own family. He had lost his salt. His life did not create a thirst for God among his neighbors.
Why is there so much corruption around us, Beloved? Is it because we have failed to be the salt of the earth? Statistics show that multiple millions of American Christians have not even registered to vote! Is that being salty salt?
...Do you, as Ephesians 5 says, expose the unfruitful deeds of darkness? Do you stand firm against all the attacks of the enemy, Satan, or are you ignorant of his methods and devices?
...How I pray that God will speak to you in a very clear way so that your life will not be worthless, cast out, and trodden under foot of men in mockery.
George Truett once said, "You are either being corrupted by the world or you are salting it." There is no middle ground.
As I read these words, I could not help but reflect on this past year and the exposure of wrong that I have witnessed in certain situations. I know God's hand has been at work in and through the lives of individuals who have refused to embrace apathy, tolerance and injustice. Although they have not increased their popularity with all people by taking such a bold stand, I believe they have been used by God.
It is not enough to withdraw from the world and refrain from partaking in the unfruitful deeds of darkness. Darkness must be exposed. We must be a light in the darkness. But before we can truly do that with any effectiveness, we must have light shined on the darkness of our own hearts. And we have to ask God to show us what He sees when He looks at our hearts. It's not the most comfortable experience when God answers this prayer. I can tell you that from experience. But it is the only way to be changed.
The more I grow toward God and allow His light to shine on me, the more I despair of my condition. The truth is, I am never what I want to be for God. I fall short every day. Growing and maturing in Christ exposes to us our fallen condition and brings us to our knees in repentance, it does not make us feel good about ourselves. I loved something I read recently. It was this quote from Mike Ratliff (my emphasis added):
God is good my brethren. The marvels of conviction of sin, forgiveness, and holiness are so interwoven that it is only the forgiven who are holy. He or she proves they are forgiven by their transformed life by God’s grace. When God grants repentance it always brings the believer to confess, “I have sinned!” When a believer does this and means it then we know that God is at work in that heart. The cleansed life will manifest itself in conscious repentance and unconscious holiness. Never forget my brethren that conscious holiness leads to self-righteousness. We must focus on walking in repentance. God will grow us in holiness.
Comments
One statement you made caught my eye: "I am never what I want to be for God."
It is easy for us to get caught up in what we think God wants us to be and what God's plan for us actually is~obviously, He wants us to grow in righteousnes and become holy.
It has been my experience that when I try to be what I think God wants me to be, I get in God's way and thwart His purpose (at least temporarily).
We become perfected in Christ when we stop trying to figure things out for ourselves and open ourselves to God's leading. This opening is true humility. Those who are truly humble experience the peace that passes understanding and walk in the light of understanding and faith. Interestingly enough, this was the same topic of our before school prayer group this morning. Take care....
Alice in PA
We agree that what God wants is for us to grow in righteousness and holiness. I am just conscious daily of how far I fall short of righteousness and holiness, which makes me even so much more thankful for the cross!
I know you remember some of the chats we had when I still believed the things I was once taught. I am a completely transformed person when it comes to understanding the gospel and the peace that you spoke of.
How interesting that your prayer group was on this very same topic! That happens to me all the time.
Hey Shari, I'm curious about the above and would love to hear more. What were you taught...and what do you believe now?