[Biblemat] A>Salt In Crystal Shakers (Kent Heaton)

[kerux]

Salt In Crystal Shakers

(Kent Heaton)

 

Setting a fine table is a beautiful picture. The finest china is laid carefully in exacting positions with silverware in the correct amount and placement. Crystal glasses shimmer with the reflective light of refreshments filling each position. Cloth napkins matching the soft tones of the tablecloth enhance the visual appeal for the patron. Every effort is made to present the best offerings of presentation for the enjoyment of the meal. Placed on both ends of the table are the finest crystal shakers filled with seasoning. Everything is ready; nothing has been omitted. 

Church buildings dot the landscape throughout our country. Many are ornate and beautiful with all the amenities of a modern age. Spacious auditoriums are filled with soft pews that offer comfort for lengthy engagements of activities. Visual panoramas light up the screens with words of exhortation and praise. Voices blend together with joyous exaltation as hymns echo in the service. Powerful messages of hope, glory, duty and exhortation ring from the pulpit. Classes are filled with happy hearts of contended students learning about the wonderful stories of old. Placed in exacting positions sit crystal shakers of salt represented by the hearts of each person who worship in this place.

On our fine table of china and crystal stand shakers filled with seasoning. While the beauty of these crystal shakers cannot be ignored, the function of these instruments do not find themselves until applied to the food. It is the seasoning inside these shakers that make the impact of the meal as they bring life and nourishment as they are applied. In a myriad of churches, sit lives of salt that while beautiful in form find no worth until applied to the lives of others. Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men" (Matthew 5:13).

The purpose of salt is to be exposed to that which needs seasoning. Salt sitting on the shelf does nothing to enhance the taste of anything. Putting salt in a crystal shaker will look elegant but serve no function without applying it to the meal. Our lives are described as salt. We cannot enhance the lives of others by simply being a "good example" for others to see. Sitting in an elegant church building may serve a purpose of fulfilling certain commands given by God but without taking the message of hope to others to enhance their lives in Christ serves little purpose.

Our lives must come in contact with those who need the gospel. This contact is a direct response of applying salt in the lives of others. As the salt of the earth, our lives must seek opportunities to make a direct contact with those who need the gospel of Jesus Christ. Andrew made direct contact with his brother Peter to bring him to Christ (John 1:40-42). Philip found Nathanael and told him, "Come and see" (John 1:46). The early disciples "who were scattered went about preaching the word" (Acts 8:4). They realized the principle Jesus told His disciples at the well in John 4:35, "Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see how the fields are already white for harvest."

Harvest takes place with the workers go into the fields and make contact. People come to the gospel of Jesus Christ because people make contact with other people. The salt of our lives can only be of value when applied to the lives of others.


Kent Heaton
207 NE Fourth Avenue
Trenton, Florida  32693
(Home) 352-463-6916
(Office) 352-463-3793
(Cell) 352-283-3889
kerux at bellsouth.net
www.trentonchurchofchrist.com
www.northfloridabiblecamp.com
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