Dusty Shoes: Living a Relevant Life
A baby camel (as babies will do), was peppering his mother with questions one day about his big feet, his long eyelashes, and the big hump on his back. His mother replied that they were all to help him traverse the hot, dry, windy, sandy terrain of the desert. Then the baby camel said, “But Mom, if we were designed to survive well in the desert, why are we in the zoo?”[1]
Good question. And one we should ask of ourselves
If God has indeed given us what we need to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ into the world, then why do we seem to spend most of our time in the confines of a church building?
That thought then begs the question: Is Christianity social, or is it solitary?
Should I share my faith in Jesus with others, or is my faith a personal thing to be kept to myself?
It appears that too many Christians have opted for the latter answer, circling the wagons to keep the “good guys” in and the “bad guys” out
Jesus tells us in Matthew 5 the role the Christian is to have in the world: being salt and light
1. We are the salt of the earth
Matthew 5:13 (ESV)
13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
3 things about salt:
- Salt prevents decay
In Jesus’ day the only way that meat was kept for any length of time was to apply salt
Salt would preserve the meat because the bacteria that normally would destroy meat could not survive in a very salty environment
The bacteria of sin is what is destroying the world
The salt that God uses to preserve the world while the Gospel is being spread is the body of Christ; you and me as His salt in the world
Salty Christians are needed in the world today; because the world is getting worse, not better
I firmly believe that Jesus has always been and is the answer for our world today
And the presence of Christ in this world comes through His people
It’s interesting to read history, and the different eras that mankind and society have gone through…
At the end of the 1800’s there was a great feeling of optimism in the world
The Industrial Revolution that began in England and spread across America, gave man a sense of power over his destiny
Wars were going to be abolished
Diseases were going to be cured
The masses would be educated and cease giving themselves to drink, immorality and vice
It was going to be a great new world in the 1900’s.
But then WW1 came. Things were not better
Then WW2, Korea, Vietnam, terrorism, Isis, corrupt world government and on and on
At the beginning of this century, there are plenty of voices speaking out against so many things
Some of those voices have all the ideas about how things can get better if this person or that leader would just act right
While some of that may be true, you would have to be living in a bubble somewhere to believe that things are great
This is the world that the church lives in today
We are the salt of the world
The Holy Spirit in each Christian in the world, like salt, is what preserves the world
Instead of us being part of the problem, we are part of the answer…the answer is Jesus!
- Salt provides flavor
Just like salt provides flavor for our food, Christ Jesus in us provides flavor in an unsavory world
The world can satisfy for a season, but when one comes to know Christ, everything changes
When one comes to know Jesus as Savior, everything changes
For that reason, there ought to be a significant difference in Christians
Everything that you and I do should stand out in this world
We should be the most faithful, the most generous, the hardest working, the most loving people on planet Earth
Be salty in the world!
Do everything in such a way that people are drawn to the wonderful flavor of Jesus!
- Salt promotes thirst
We’re using salt as metaphor of what a Christian should be like as we work and live in this world
Like salt, the presence of Jesus in his people prevent decay in the world
Like salt, the presence of Jesus in his people provide flavor in this world…we are to stand out as examples of Jesus in this world
And also, the presence of Christ in us, should draw others to him…we should cause people to be thirsty for what we have
Just like salt can make you physically thirsty; you and I living and modeling our lives after Jesus should make others thirst for him!
In Jesus’ day, during the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem, the priests went to the Pool of Siloam and filled large jugs with water which was poured out on the altar of the Temple.
This ritual was performed for seven days. On the seventh day, the priests went to the Pool seven times and poured out the water on the altar.
On that last day, Jesus cried out to those observing this ritual saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” [2]
Most of us think that we couldn’t possibly make a difference for Jesus in this world
But you can. Simply by living as salt and light in this world
By our very presence, living a faithful life for Christ, the world will be preserved, made thirsty and hungry for him
British political philosopher, Edmund Burke said this: “Nobody makes a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little[3]
A little salt goes a long way!
Jesus also said that we are the light of the world:
- We are the light of the world
Matthew 5:14–15 (ESV)
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.”
We as the salt of Christ in this world hold back evil and its destruction…you and I as light shine forth what is good
We are to be both salt and light: Christ in us holding back evil and light shining forth good
When you and I live as the light of Christ in the world; shining forth Jesus in the darkness, then evil deeds stand out as what they are …evil
Because the light of Christ is the standard for righteousness in this world
You and I, Christ in us, following Jesus, shining His light into the dark world…being examples of him…
Makes evil stand out for what it is: evil
Without the light of Christ in the church, the evil deeds of the world would have nothing to be measured against
Ephesians 5:8 (ESV)
8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
We are children of light
Matthew 5:16 (ESV)
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Do your job
Let your light so shine before others, that they may see your good works and give glory to God
If our light is concealed by the fact that we stay at home or stay at church and never let the world see our light, what is accomplished?
For light to accomplish its purpose, it must leave the presence of other lights and go out into the world
When salt loses its flavor, Jesus said, it is worthless.
And when a light is put under a basket, it too is worthless.
For the church to accomplish its purpose of preservation and illumination in the world, we must go out into the world where decay and darkness are present.
Even as a solitary Christian, you can be as effective as one grain of salt and one candle—if only you will go where you are needed.[4]
[1] Jeremiah, D. (2007). Signs of Life (Study Guide) (p. 22). San Diego, CA: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
[2] Jeremiah, D. (2007). Signs of Life (Study Guide) (pp. 24–25). San Diego, CA: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
[3] Jeremiah, D. (2007). Signs of Life (Study Guide) (p. 25). San Diego, CA: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
[4] Jeremiah, D. (2007). Signs of Life (Study Guide) (p. 27). San Diego, CA: Thomas Nelson Publishers.