One time, many years ago, I got a bag of potato chips from the groccery store. The dill flavored, ripple style chips, with the green seasoning flecks on them. Well when we got home from the store, I opened up the bag, reached inside and grabbed a handful and started munching away. However, something immediately seemed different. These chips did not taste like dill pickle chips. So I looked into the bag and discovered that instead of being filled with the flavored chips, they were just plain.
So we went back to the store and showed the worker the chips. Apologizing, she gave us another bag for free. Before we left for home again, though, we decided to open the bag right there to check, and do you know what we found? Another bag of plain chips. We then proceeded to open several more bags, all of them containing plain chips instead of the advertised “dill pickle” chips. Eventually we did find a bag containing the right ones.
We bought those chips expecting to receive what was advertised. We didn’t want the plain chips, we wanted the seasoned ones.
That is kind of similar to what Jesus was teaching in Matthew 5:13.
“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be trodden under foot of men.”
So what if you put some salt on your french fries, but when you took a bite, instead of tasting the saltiness that should be there, it instead tasted like sand on your fries? It would be gross, and you would probably throw them all away.
That is also like a lightbulb, which on the outside seems fine, but when you screw it into the socket and flip the switch nothing happens because it’s burnt out. What is that light good for then? It doesn’t serve a purpose and it is thrown away into the garbage.
If someone claims to be a Christian, but doesn’t “taste” like a Christian, or act in accordance to the ways that Christ teaches, then are they truly one in their heart? Just as salt is used to enhance the flavor of something, Christians are used to bring glory and honor to Christ. If they remain “salty” for Christ, they will receive the reward of everlasting life. But if they lost their “saltiness”, or don’t serve, obey, and bring honor to Christ, they will be cast out.
In Matthew 25, Jesus tells a parable of the talents. The man had three servants, to one he have 5 talents, to one 2, and to the third servant he gave 1 talent. The servant who received the 5 talents went out and traded and made another 5 talents beside the ones he had been given. Likewise the servant with 2 talents went out and made another 2. But what did the third seravnt do with his 1 talent? He went and buried it in the ground and didn’t do anything with it.
When the time came for the servants to report what they had done, the first two servants were rewarded. But when the man came and asked the last servant what he had to show with what he had been given, he didn’t have anything. He did nothing. He was an unprofitable servant, and he was cast out.
“And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 25:30
That is what is going to happen to those who don’t use the time and grace they have been given for Christ, and doing His will. We have only a short time on the earth, and our “mission” is to honor and serve Christ. Our purpose is to bring glory to His name and to get others to do the same.
We are the salt of the earth; don’t lose your flavor!
In Christ,
Andrew
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 