One of the things God has made plain and brought greater revelation today is: every believer represents the salt of the earth.
If you’re asking “What does that even mean?”, the salt of the earth are characteristics of the believer who is pure, valuable, moral, trustworthy, and has integrity. Just as salt preserves food, we, as believers, should be spiritually preserved in the Holy Ghost. The adage is key (worth their salt in gold), but not too many people go by that today.
“ You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it’s lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It’ll be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.”
(Matthew 5:13) We must know God sees our saltiness as an integral part of every believer. It’s also clear in His word He holds the believer accountable regarding saltiness.
A clear example in the Bible is Lot’s wife, who looked back after being warned and she turned into a pillar of salt. The significance of this act is that God kept his word.
It shows He will release His fury on the very ones He warns if they don't turn it around. Warning always comes before destruction! This also spoke volumes, as it was judgment on display and a direct correlation to her disobedience.
“ Kind words are like honey sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.”
(Proverbs 16:24)
To yield further clarity, the question becomes can the believer lose their saltiness? Yes indeed. At some point, our constant disobedience becomes a stench in His nostrils. It’s true, many tend to explain disobedience away gracefully, only to frustrate grace all the more.
If we as believers continue to tap dance around disobedience — especially in the pulpits — there will be demonstrations at God’s hand. They will play out just as they did in the scriptures.
Anyone who mounts the pulpits, will be held accountable and have much blood on their hands. The solution is repentance and there is no way around it.
Mankind can't keep count, but God surely takes into account how we are to live. The obvious impression He takes it all into account, is judgment.
Even before judgment there’s reaping. Surely we reap what we’ve sown. Why wait until the end, when we can get it right now and repent?
There is a sweetness afforded to every believer. Likewise in Jesus, everyday is sweeter than the day before. Of course there is; ’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at his word. I can go on and on listing the sweet melodies of Jesus past and present.
As we’are saved in Christ Jesus we imitate facets of him — as we’re truly made in his image. His image is the sweet spot, that we begin to portray.
Let’s be clear though, it has everything to do with shaping our hearts and less to do with his physical attributes. It’s the sweet deposits of Jesus that bridles our tongue, molds our character, and turns our responses toward people into kindness instead of being harsh and offensive.
“ Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?” (James 3: 10-11) How do I know? I once was blind but now I see. I was selfish — no longer, I harbored unforgiveness — no longer, I was rude to people — no longer, I was self-entitled as though someone owed me something, I was a liar — no longer.
I could go on but I’m sure you understand. I also could make excuses as to why I was this way or that. Nothing would suffice or even be acceptable. Now, I’m kingdom and I’m found. I’ve put in work to be a better me.
He said to them in Judges:
“Out of the eater came something to eat. Out of the strong came something sweet.”
— Judges 14: 14
The most humbling of all, I didn’t do this in my might. God did it!
Sure there were steps I had to take, but He helped me to be cleansed and made me whole.
He also showed me who I was. The old me is no longer. I’m made over intentionally, walking purposefully.
There were old parts of me that He scaled, so I would be motioned forward without the weight.
Yes, I am lighter, no longer carrying the luggage of my past.
Today, I’m a sweet demeanor meets a salty preserve personified.
Apostle Jacqueline Hudson is a Waycross resident and author of the book “Never Say Never: A Memoir with a Twist.”
