Admit it—the first time you read Matthew 5:13–16, you were a little confused. Salt? Light? A city? How in the world are Christians supposed to be all these things?
Let’s take a look at Jesus’ definition for you, me, and every other Christian you know.
Salt of the World
Have you ever been thirsty after eating something super salty? Salty foods tend to make us crave water.
If Jesus is the living water and we are the salt, doesn’t that mean we are supposed to salt the world and make it thirst for Him?
Make the World Thirsty
How do we make the world thirsty? We have to season the world with our hearts and love. We need to ask thought-provoking questions and go out (Matthew 28:19).
Unsalty Salt
The problem is, far too many of us are choked by apathy. We lost our saltiness!
If salt had no flavor, would you bother putting it on your food? Or would you throw it out and get new salt? Matthew 5 says that if salt loses its saltiness, then it is good for nothing. What are Christians good for if we are tasteless and no longer potent?
Light of the World
If you’ve ever lit a candle in a dark room, then you know it’s pretty bright. It expels the darkness. You can see the candle and anything else in the room. When you light another candle, it gets even brighter. A third candle and the room is quickly losing its darkness. Eventually, after lighting enough candles or turning on enough lights, the room will be free of darkness. Shadows flee. And it becomes so bright that you almost have to squint.
Pretty bright, right?
But have you ever seen darkness expel light? Have you ever had so much darkness in a room that the light is impossible to see? Have you ever cast a shadow on a flame?
The best darkness can do is hide from the light in the form of a shadow. But it can’t get rid of the light, and it can’t put it out.
Jesus told His followers that they are the light of the world. And if light expels the darkness, then how come we are the ones constantly hiding? The darkness can’t put you out. The best it can do is block you. It can bully you into hiding behind something that will shield the light.
Display your light on a lampstand and don’t hide it beneath a basket. Lampstands are pretty tall—they make it harder for darkness to run. But putting a light under a basket would be ridiculous. Lighting a candle or turning on a flashlight just to put it under a bucket? What good does that do?
City on a Hill
Okay, so picture this: You’re at the bottom of a hill. At the top is a city with tons of lights and people and commotion. You can see the city from every side at the base of the hill. It’d be pretty hard to ignore, right? You’ll notice it right away. Unlike a city at the bottom of a hill, which you can only see if you’re on the hill. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
A city at the top of a hill is also the best place to have a fort. It’s easy to defend and easy to attack. Put simply, a hilltop is a place of strategy during war times.
So what’s the point of mentioning these three things?
One makes the world thirst for water.
Another expels the darkness and reveals the things we hide away.
The third is a place of life, community, and fortitude.
This is the definition of a Christian. Bold with the Gospel, doing good deeds, and gathering with a strong community of believers—people who will shine brighter than the ones stuck in the valleys, who will together defend against evil attacks, and who will lift one another in the name of Jesus.
If you’re struggling with apathy, seek God. Chase Him with your whole heart.
If you’re struggling with hiding among the darkness, take the basket off and come into the light. There isn’t a flaw that can’t be wiped away, and there isn’t a shadow that can stifle your light.
If you’re struggling because you lack the community to strengthen, defend, and gather around you, find them. Pray for them and seek out a Bible-believing and teaching group.
You cannot shy away from the commands, calls, or very definition of the faith. So why are we still waiting?
(A portion of this article was inspired by the book Will Our Generation Speak by Grace Mally.)
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