Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser
There is a passage of scripture describing the kind of persons we are, as believers in Christ. Mathew chapter 5, verses 13-16 describes believers as salt and light
13 “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. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 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. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Christ’s portrayal of the believer is a declaration of our worth and importance in this world. The above text of scripture makes this clearer. What’s your worth to your fellow human being? God uses believers to bring about change in society, change that will last for eternity. That means your actions and attitude are very important. Evaluate your behaviour and ensure you are of value to people around you. Your life is of great value as you can see from Mathew 5:13-16. Your life must make a real difference in someone else’s life. Your life has worth and value not only to God but also to someone else. “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the earth”. Christ uses these two terms to describe the believer’s powerful potential for influencing the world for good and righteousness.
To the people who heard Him over 2000 years ago use these two terms to describe believers, for that society, He paid them a tremendous complement because salt was of great value. But even today we put salt in food to change the taste of it. Salt changes the flavour and helps in the seasoning process. Jesus is saying that we must season and change the atmosphere in which we live. It’s a great complement to believers. Let me ask you this question: whose life are you seasoning? How are many people’s lives flavoured because they know you? Whose life has been changed because that person met you. Every single one of us is flavouring somebody either for good or evil. We are the salt of this world, and when you add salt you change something. Whose life is your life changing.
He also said you are the light of the world. Christ is the light of this world who lives in us and therefore, shines through us. Light is to be seen because a city set on a hill cannot be hidden. It can be seen from a very far distance. The light is also used as a guide. We use flashlight as a guide for walking, camping, searching etc. You are the light of the world, so you are guiding somebody. Sure enough, somebody is following you. The question we must ask is, are we walking in such a way that whoever is following us is going to follow in a direction toward the goal that’s going to be healthy for them and helpful in their Christian experience? It is certain that somebody is following you, so don’t lead them in the wrong direction.
We are lights that are dispelling darkness. We shine so that it’s safer to walk because somebody is following us. I wonder who is following your life, watching where you go, listening to what you are saying. I wonder whose life your life is guiding. Don’t think society is ignoring you and that you are not influencing anybody. “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marvelled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).
" The idea of keeping your Christian faith private is totally unscriptural. "
Don’t hide your light. Rather, set it where it can be seen by everybody in the house. Our presence in this world beautifies it. The countenance of Jesus Christ shines through us to beautify wherever we are. Illuminating from within us is the person of Jesus Christ. His life overflows abundantly out of our lives so that whoever sees us is seeing the person of Christ Jesus. “17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17).
Light beautifies but it also reveals or exposes (John 3:19). “See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant” (Jer.1:10). This says a lot about our Christian testimony. Light dispels and drives out darkness. Our very presence at where we live, work, and play ought to be pushing against, dispelling and driving out the darkness. The light of the gospel of Christ abiding in us exposes error. It reveals it for what it is. It shows the truth of it, and manifests what it is. That’s why the world doesn’t want us around because the presence of light in your life makes them extremely uncomfortable. Your presence reminds them of what they ought to be. Your unbelieving friends are more comfortable without you. That’s why God wants us to expose the darkness and to reveal the truth.
You are the salt – seasoning, flavouring and preserving. You are the light – guiding people and then exposing and expelling darkness. Christ portrays us as salt and light and emphasises on our potential to change society. 15 “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Mat. 5:15-16). Sometimes we shy away from our duty, but our light is to be seen. There is no place for private Christianity. The Christian is to be thrown into society where there will be persecution and rejection, but He has made us salt and light. When you are placed in that kind of environment, your presence makes a change. The idea of keeping your Christian faith private is totally unscriptural.
Do you know why unbelievers want us to keep our faith private? Because they fear our influence and our potential to change society once we arise and get on the move. They are frightened, so they want to pass laws and restrict us and to protect themselves from our influence as believers. The Christian life is not to be lived inside the church. Your life is to be lived in a society that is decaying, degenerating, full of darkness, evil, wickedness and sin.
We are made for ministry and agents of change. We are made to influence society which is in opposition to almighty God. As soon as you leave the doors of the church, your opportunity begins. It begins where you are rejected, disliked and criticised. How much food can you season as long as you keep the salt in its container? Not any. The nations we live in are degenerating orally in every area. It’s not God’s fault. The main reason for this is that too many of God’s people have the misconception of who we are. What’s our nature? We are salt and light and therefore, we need to effect change. What’s happening in your offices and workplace? Don’t quit because people in your office are unbelievers. That’s the reason God put you there!
