Salt and Light

Matthew 5:13-16

Have you ever excitedly grabbed a bag of popcorn, sat down to watch a movie thinking this was going to be a great experience, but then you realize that there is no salt on the popcorn? When you were expecting a savory treat, only to find a bland replacement?

When we eat food, there is nothing worse than expecting one flavor only to be disappointed with another. Flavor is important, especially when the food chosen is expected to be savory and it is not.

Or have you ever woken up in the middle of the night and attempt to cross the room in the dark, but find yourself stumbling all over things that shouldn’t be there? When you turn on the light, you see what you tripped on. With your stubbed toe hurting, you now wish you would have cleaned your room.

Light is important for us to see. Darkness is the absence of light. In the darkness, sight is lost or confused by shadows and fears. Light brings truth and sight.

Jesus knew that these two parables would powerfully teach heavenly truth for all humanity throughout the ages. Salt and Light are two vital parts of our lives. They are needed every day.

Jesus wasn’t just speaking into a vacuum when he used these parables. He was speaking to his followers. He had just shared the Beatitudes, a list of blessings and characteristics of those who truly seek him. Now he begins to share the impact true followers of Christ will have on this world.

Those who follow Christ and reflect Him to the world are the salt of the earth. What do you know about salt? It is seasoning, adding savory flavors to food. It is a preservative, allowing food to last longer. It has also been used medicinally to promote healing.

Consider how a person who is poor in spirit, meek, seeks righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, and a peacemaker would impact those around her? She has a proper view of herself, not from social media or cultural trends, but from God’s Word. She has meek attitude, not sharp and entitled, but humble and meek. She always looks for the right thing to do. She is kind to people who don’t deserve it. She doesn’t expect anything in return, and she promotes peace and reconciliation in all things.

Her life would bless all those around her, to put it another way, she would bring heavenly seasoning to life. She would preserve relationships. She would heal others broken and lonely hearts. She would be the salt of the earth.

How could a young man be light in this world? If he is truly following Christ and exemplifying these same qualities than he too would show this world another way. In this dark world, where everyone is out for themselves, prideful, angry, corrupt, impure, and divisive, he would be selfless, humble, peaceful, pure, righteous and promoting reconciliation. Nothing in this life is more powerful than the testimony of God reconciling people to Himself and to each other. Watch this video of godly reconciliation:

Andrew and Jameel went through some hard trials, but ultimately, they surrendered to Christ and Jesus worked in them something beautiful. Do you see how their story is the light of Christ to this dark world?

Three of the Beatitudes I haven’t mentioned yet are perhaps the most powerful opportunities for a Christ follower to be salt and light to the world. Those who mourn, are persecuted, and reviled against. When Christ is your life and you go through these valleys, people will see His reflection on you.

When we mourn the loss of someone close, we don’t mourn as unbelievers who have no hope, for we know the hope of Christ. Some of the most worshipful and joyous occasions I have experienced, though mixed sorrow too, was at the home going of a saint. One who trusted in Christ and lived for His glory, who we can confidently celebrate that they are absent from the body and in the presence of Jesus. That is a far different expression than what the world experiences without Christ. This is an opportunity for you to be salt and light.

We should also mourn over the brokenness and sin in this world. How can we be salt and light today? We see injustice and activism all around us. How can we mourn over the injustice and stand for the truth? How can we be humble, meek and seek peace? How can you be salt and light in your responses?

When you are persecuted or reviled because of your faith in Jesus, you should count it joy that you are worthy to suffer for Christ. Throughout history, the Church has exploded under persecution. When the world tries to silence the Gospel by persecuting the Saints, God empowers the believers through the Holy Spirit to stand strong and shine brightly for His name!

I am thankful that brothers and sisters throughout the ages have recorded the stories of our fellow believers who stood for Christ despite being persecuted. I always remember the story of Polycarp, a disciple of John, who was burnt at the stake. They tried to get him to recant his faith in Jesus or die. He stood at the stake and said, “For 86 years I have served Jesus Christ and he has never abandoned me. How could I curse my blessed king and savior?” When they tried to nail him to the post, he told them there was no need, he didn’t fight the burning but boldly stood there and died for Christ.

It was later said that his story was talked about by all the unbelievers in Rome. Even to this day we remember his boldness as he brought glory to Christ through his death.

Praise God we live in a different time and country and do not have to fear being burnt at the stake for our faith. However, persecution comes in many different forms. How will you respond? Is your first thought to avoid it at all cost, to protect yourself, to back down so that you don’t stand out, or to stand up for Jesus?

If you desire to be the salt and light in this world, then follow Christ, put Him first and reflect His glory all around.

Crushing Temptation

Oh, The Temptation from Steve Vanderheide on Vimeo.

James 1:2-4, 12-15

I have recently enjoyed using Taco Bell as an illustration of temptation and the Christian struggle with sin.

“Eating Taco Bell in my adult years is a good picture of sin. At first it is a passing thought in my mind and easily dismissed. Then the idea of a quick and cheap meal grows on me. Who doesn’t like Mexican? The added convenience of driving right by it begins to dismantle any objections. It soon sounds like a very good idea and I begin to crave it. I then set my focus on pursuing it. Even in line I think of the healthier and better options at home, but now I am placing my order. Upon receiving my food, I am excited to eat it. Almost immediately after eating it, my stomach tells me that it wasn’t a good idea. Later, pain and suffering ensue. Soon I am full of repentance and promising that I will never eat there again.”

Temptation is a part of our reality. We all face it. As a matter of fact, God’s Word tells us that “No temptation has come upon you but what is common to everyone” (1 Cor 10:13). Everyone is faced with temptation on a daily basis. It is what you do with temptation that makes a difference.

As believers, we find that temptation serves a purpose in our lives; temptation is an opportunity to prove our faith. James tell us to “consider it a joy when we face trials of various kinds.” Why be joyful in the face of temptation? Because it is opportunity for growth and dependence on our Lord.

A sign of maturing as a Christian is that temptations are not as strong as they used to be. Why? Because we have learned endurance and grown in strength as we say no to sin.

A brief survey of James 1 helps us understand the Christian’s perspective on facing temptation.

1.     It is an opportunity to grow. 1:2-4

2.     God is the source for wisdom and will give it to us when we ask. 1:5-8

3.     Temporal treasures fade, eternal treasures last. 1:9-11

4.     Our own desires are the root of our temptation. 1:12-15

5.     God’s plan is truly for our ultimate good, we can trust Him. 1:16-18

When we doubt God in the midst of temptation, we will fall into sin. Temptation presents us with an alternative to God’s plan, it tells us that God isn’t who He says He is, that He won’t do what He promises to do, and that He isn’t powerful enough to deliver on His promises. Temptation says that immediate gratification is better than trusting God’s plan and waiting on Him.

What temptation doesn’t tell you is the consequences of pursuing it. It fails to mention that falling into temptation leads to sin, and sin leads to death. Sin will take you farther than you want to go, it will keep you longer than you want to stay and it will cost you more than you want to pay!

The key to overcoming temptation is to get our focus on the only One who can deliver us from sin. We need to fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2) and trust Him more than the temptation.

Paul describes the Christian’s struggle with sin and temptation in Romans 7, and concludes with this question: “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver us from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24)

His answer needs to be our focus: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:25)

Jesus Christ is the answer to our struggle. As you grow in your relationship with Him you will conquer sin and temptation. So, the way to Crush Temptation is to grow in your desire for God Himself, fixing your eyes on Jesus.

The formula for overcoming temptation is simple, but for some reason we like to make it so difficult. It’s the same things we have been hearing in Sunday School since we were kids. There is a little children’s song that summarizes most of it in the line, “Read your Bible and pray every day and you will grow, grow, grow!”

Battle Plan

1.     Get In The Word!

In youth group we have the Word of Life Quiet Time Diary as a help to get in the Word of God. The goal as a believer should be to spend time in God’s Word daily. Especially as Americans today, we of all people are so privileged to have the Word of God in various translations, in print, on our smart phones and computers. We have audio Bibles, we have music, we have apps.

Unfortunately, we have more excuses. I’m tired, I’m busy, I have homework, I have practice, I have… fill in the blank. How much TV have you watched? How much time did you spend watching sports? How much time did you spend texting or snapping? How much time did you spend reading a novel? How much time…

The point is, you have time for what you value. Is the eternal Word of God valued in your life?

2.     Memorize the Word!

King David writes, “how show a young man keep his way pure? By listening to your Word,” and later, “I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” He gives a very clear point that memorizing the Word of God brings power over sin and temptation.

Now there is value in memorizing verses that deal with the particular struggle you are facing, but I want to encourage you to pick verses that give you a proper view of God and His promises. Desiring and Delighting in God will overcome all forms of temptation.

3.     Accountability

This one is difficult because it requires vulnerability. Who do you know that you trust? Who is pursuing Christ the way you are? Finding a brother or sister in Christ that can be there for you and walk with you is important. I’d encourage guys to find a guy and girls to find a girl as an accountability partner. We encourage this by having small groups in youth group.

Who knows your sin struggles? Who have you told about your desire to grow closer to Jesus? Good accountability is not just getting together and asking a list of questions, although that can be helpful. It is about being there for each other and encouraging each other to fix your eyes on Jesus.

The most successful accountability relationships I have are 1) consistent, 2) intentional, 3) long term, and 4) grace filled.

Consistency means that you have to get together on a regular basis. You have to determine to get together, especially when you have fallen into temptation.

Intentional, you have to know why you are getting together. It’s not just about the sin issue, it’s about loving Jesus more. Love for Jesus will impact all areas of life, not just the one area.

Long term means that you not just about getting through this one temptation, but you want to live life together. I have a dear friend of mine that I meet with regularly. We have been regularly meeting for a couple of years now and it has become one of the most rewarding times of my week. I get to see his growth and walk with Jesus and he is a big encouragement to me!

When we employ these three steps, we will see victory over temptation. Temptation is real. It comes from within. It can be powerful, but doesn’t have to be. Don’t isolate yourself, find a partner to pursue the Word of God with, and memorize God’s promises and allow His Word to be your weapon against temptation.