WFW: Seasoned with Salt

Sorry that I'm posting this so late in the day... In addition to my reading, I'm preparing for a major project this weekend. Here's today's Word For Wednesday. For more, check out Yeah right...

"For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice seasoned with salt. Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another." ~ Mark 9:49-50 What does it mean when Jesus says "everyone willl be seasoned with fire"? 1 Corinthians 3:13 says, "...each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is." So we can see that Jesus is speaking of our works being tested. In fact, this same passage in Matthew (5:13-16) states, "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 trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a 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 who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good WORKS and glorify your Father in heaven." Our works should matter for eternity. In Hebrews 12:28-29, Paul says, "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire." If we serve God acceptably, our works will remain when tested by fire, because they are "done in God" and for God. What is the point that Christ is trying to make about salt? In a recipe, many times it will say, "Salt/season to taste." This is because everyone has different tastes as far as seasoning goes; some like it heavily seasoned, and others like it only lightly seasoned. So think about this: If there were no seasoning, what would happen? The recipe would be bland, there would be no taste. If the salt ran out of flavor, try as you might you will not get that recipe to taste good. So how does this apply to us as Christians? I believe it can be summed up in this Scripture: "Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" (Psalm 34:8). How will the world be able to taste and see that the Lord is good if there is no flavor in our lives? If the world can't see any difference in us through our trust in Christ (because actions follow beliefs), its time to get some new seasoning. I've been on a raw food diet (going on three weeks this Thursday, but that's not to say I haven't cheated), and I noticed something about salt. I like to salt my food, and I'm sure that many others out there do, too. The other day, I was eating some raw cashews and sesame seeds, and I was commenting that I like them both with or without salt; I tend to like them salty, but I'm used to the raw ones by now (which are not roasted and cooked in questionable oils). But I realized something: the food companies salt just about everything -- chips, nuts, crackers, any kind of snack -- you name it, it's salted. They do this so that people will become addicted to it and want more of it (and they make there money that way, because it tastes good). I know, because that's how I was -- I used to eat one chip, than another and another, all because of the saltiness! After all, you can't just have one! ;) Of course, salting your food isn't necessarily a bad thing, but here is the point of this analogy: what if we were to be the same way, in a good sense? What if we were to be such a tasty flavor that people would be addicted to God when they come near us -- that people could taste His goodness? As a light gives light to a dark place so that people can find their way, we should be leading people to Christ by our light, by our "flavor." Many times, people will hate Christianity simply because someone wasn't a good witness for Christ -- "He calls himself a Christian, but he did this (sin)," or "He said that evil thing." You know, the world isn't as dumb as we sometimes think it is; people will pick up on that sort of behavior -- people generally know right from wrong, though not everyone admits it. If we are saltless, we are tastless; the world will not taste God's goodness through us. Instead, they will be pulled away from God, just as is the case when we taste a bland meal -- "This is disgusting! I don't want that! It needs more seasoning!" This is why Paul admonishes us in Colossians 4:5-6, "Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one." (See also Eph 4:29.) Adam Clark's commentary on this verse is as follows: "Let all your conversation be such as may tend to exemplify and recommend Christianity; let it not only be holy, but wise, gracious, and intelligent." "...to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God" (Psalm 50:23). Lead by example -- that is a phrase which applies so well to Christianity. Lead people to Christ by your example, because that's all that matters for eternity; everything else is tasteless.