Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.”
Shake, shake, shake; shake, shake, shake; shake your Sensa…. Ever see that commercial on TV? A couple is sitting in their car with a bag of French fries. But before eating, they pull out the salt-like box of Sensa and pour it over their food. Evidently a few shakes of Sensa and the calorie-laden fries are transformed into diet food. It’s such an incredible feat that out of nowhere a marching band suddenly appears to join the awestruck couple in celebration.
I have no idea as to whether or not Sensa lives up to its claims. But I have to admit that a product in which a simple shake could melt the fat content of my favorite foods would be quite remarkable….
It makes me think of Christians, of how Jesus said we are the “salt of the earth.” I wonder what would happen if we took that assertion seriously. What if we saw ourselves—not as Sensa—but as sent? What if we believed we were capable through the grace of Christ to melt the hardness of sin that blocks others from spiritual life? What if we realized the potential that his love pouring through us held in diffusing anger, relieving stress and bringing healing to wounded hearts?
G. K. Chesterton famously remarked “Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried.” We think it’s too hard for us to possibly make a difference. So we withdraw into our little salt shakers and rest prettily on the shelf. That is Satan’s victory. Jesus warns that salt that is not used is thrown out. We miss our call. We miss our purpose. And the world around us suffers a little more because of our immobility.
So don’t be deceived. If Jesus Christ lives in you—you have been sent. There are people in your life who need to be salted. And you, my friend, are the one to do it. So get off that shelf, go out there and…
Shake, shake shake. I can hear the marching band celebrating!