I DID A LITTLE SALT INVESTIGATION. Natural salt without additives won’t ever go bad. However, salt mixed with additives has about a five year life. And then, expose salt to humidity like what would be found in Israel; it will still look like salt, but becomes a white powdery substance. “Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” Luke 14:34-35 Side note- anytime Jesus says, “he who has ears to hear”; He is trumpeting a stark admonition as a commander would tell his troop, “Pay attention soldier! I’m giving you important information.”
Jesus is saying that tasteless salt is worthless. Additives destroy salt- it may still look like salt and feel like salt, but it is not salt. Add a little of the world’s ways and philosophy, exposed to the atmosphere and in about five years…. I tell people all the time, the enemy only needs a crack. Pure religion (this is literally translated as “religious service” to God) is to visit those who need help, bridle your tongue (keep a rein on it) and keep oneself unspotted, or rather uncorrupted from the world. (James 1:26-27) In other words, “keep your salt pure without additives”. Love then must be salty and pure.
You cannot love Jesus and be best friends with darkness. “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.” (Romans 12:9) This clause seems linked on to the last through the word “without hypocrisy”: “Let your love arise from genuine and deep emotion; let the basis of your character be an intense hatred of evil and as strong an adhesion to good.” Saltiness is to abhor that which is evil; sin, both in its principle and in its actings; whatever is hateful to the Father, Son, and Spirit, and contrary to the nature, being, and perfections of God, a transgression of His righteous law, exceeding sinful in itself, and pernicious in its effects and consequences; for all which it is to be abhorred by the saints. The word here used, designs the greatest aversation imaginable, a turning away from all that offends God, what is the most loathsome, detestable, and abominable; and such an hatred of it with horror, as of hell itself.
Most love the service part, it makes people feel good to do for others and helping brings immediate results (not to mention accolades from the world), but the rest escapes them. How do you keep salt? Through the power of the Holy Spirit and the truth of God’s Word, you keep yourself pure. Guard your heart and your tongue. Do good to all. Keep pure from additives: Stop reading any book that someone throws at you and read The Bible. Stop watching mindless TV and watch and pray. Stay alert.
Fellowship is important- bad company corrupts. Sit under a godly shepherd and Biblical preaching. A seemingly benign comment from a wicked heart is subversive. Do not isolate- he who isolates is stupid. Get wisdom, get knowledge, get understanding— an undivided heart and clean mouth is a must to remain pure salt. “Therefore, let us keep the feast not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”1 Corinthians 5:8 #runyourrace
To Learn More About Pastor Crystal please visit the Leadership Page
