For those not familiar with an Anglican Service there are four Scripture readings prior to the Message. Today's assigned readings are: Isaiah 58:1-12; Psalm 112:1-10; 1 Corinthians 2:1-16 and Matthew 5:13-20.
A quiet forest dweller ... lived in the mountains ... high above ... a Swiss village ... along the eastern slopes ... of the Alps.
The elderly gentleman ... had been hired many years ago, by the town council ... to clear away debris ... from the pools of water ... that fed the lovely spring ... flowing through their town.
With faithful, ... silent regularity, ... he patrolled the hills, ... removing leaves and branches, ... and clearing away the silt ... that would otherwise choke ... and contaminate .... the Fresh flow ... of spring water.
By and by, ... the village became ... a popular attraction ... for vacationers.
Swans ... floated along the crystal-clear spring, ...mill wheels of various businesses located along the waterway ... turned ... with regularity.
The Farmlands were irrigated, ... and the views from the towns ... eating establishments ... were picturesque ... beyond description.
The Years passed. (Pause)
One evening ... the town council met ... for its semiannual meeting.
As they reviewed the budget, ... one man's eye caught the salary figure being paid ... to the obscure keeper ... of the mountain spring.
Said the towns treasure, ... "Who is this old man?
Why do we keep him on ... year after year?
No one ever sees him.
For all we know ... this ranger of the hills ... is doing us ... no good.
He isn't necessary ... any longer!"
By a unanimous vote, ... they dispensed with ... the old man's services.
For several weeks, ... nothing really changed.
By early autumn ... the trees began to shed their leaves.
Small branches snapped off and fell into the pools, ... hindering the rushing flow ... of sparkling water.
One afternoon ... the townsfolk noticed a slight yellowish-brown tint ... in the spring.
A few days later ... the water was ... much darker.
Within another week, ... a slimy film covered sections of the water ... and a foul odor ... was soon detected.
The mill wheels moved slower, ... some finally ground to a halt.
Swans left the town ... as did ... the tourists.
The Clammy fingers of disease and sickness .... ...reached deep ... into the village.
Quickly, ... the embarrassed council ... called a special meeting.
Realizing their gross error in judgment, ... they hired back the old keeper ... of the spring.
Within a few weeks .... the veritable ... river of life ...began to clear up.
The wheels started to turn, ... and new life returned once again...to the hamlet ... in the Alps. (Pause)
This story ... is more than ... an idle tale.
It carries with it ... a vivid ... relevant analogy ... directly related ... to the times ... in which we live.
Beloved ... What the keeper of the springs meant to that Swiss village, ... The followers of the Christ ... ...Christians ... mean ... to this world.
Christians may seem unimportant, Or ... a nuisance to the world, ... to many ... who do not believe.
But God help any society ... that attempts to exist ... without the work ... without the prayers ... of Christians.
We, ... Christ's ambassadors, ... are assigned the position ... of influencing ... and impacting our world ...not unlike ... the elderly gentleman ... in the Alps.
Nowhere in the Scriptures ... does Jesus' state ... that we are to live in isolation, ... separated from this world.
Jesus is clear ... crystal clear ... you are in the world ... but not of the world.
It is impossible to live, ... for the kingdom ... in private ... in isolation.
We are called to make a difference, ... yet sadly that calling ... has gone largely ... unfulfilled.
Put simply, ... the church has lost its influence on Society... especially ... in the western world.
There are many reasons ... why this is so, ... but one reason ... stands out ... far above the rest.
The church has lost its influence ... because Christians have ... neglected their call.
Their call ... to be salt ... and their call ... to be ... light.
And since we, ... as a whole ... have neglected to be what God has called us to be, ... the world has decided to ignore us... or in some cases ... hate us.
Yet the flip side ... is also true.
When Christians decide to be salt and light, ... to point the way to the saving grace of Jesus... the world will and does ... pay close attention.
Let me say it simply: ... When we are salt ... when we are light, ... the world will see ... and the world ... will listen.
When we are not, ... they do not. (Pause)
Jesus ... Upon sharing with his disciples, the Beatitudes, ... which are essentially ... the inner qualities... of a yielded life ... to Christ.
Jesus crowns them ... with two brilliant ... and searching metaphors ... that of salt and light ... which are essentially ... exterior qualities.
These two descriptive terms ... inform us, ... how those who live a beatitude life, ... can ... and will influence, ... the world.
The impact of these words on society ... is not unlike ... the involvement of the keeper of the mountain spring ... on the ... Swiss village.
I am convinced ... that Jesus ... chose these two metaphors ... salt and light ... because of their unique qualities.
Both carry ... an enormous influence.
Both have ... an immediate impact.
Both are noticed ... instantly.
And ... Both are difficult to veil ... and to hide.
The Quote ... "You are the salt of the earth" ... is so famous ... that it has become a proverb ... in the English language. (Matthew 5:13-16; Mark 9:50; Luke 14:34 )
If someone is genuine, ... useful, ... honest, ... and without hypocrisy, ... we say ... he or she ... is the ..."Salt of the earth".
In the ancient world ... Roman soldiers were paid in salt ... and would revolt ... if they did not get their ...ration.
In fact, ... our English word ... "salary" comes from the Latin salarium, ... which literally means ... "salt-money."
And our expression, ... "That man is not worth his salt," ... is a reminder ... of the tremendous value ... of salt ... to the human body.
In the ancient world, ... as well as today ... salt is a preservative.
Why ... because salt retards ... spoilage.
Likewise, ... believers ... those who know Jesus as their Savior and Lord ... act like a preservative ... to the world.
As we bring Christ's word ... and the Kingdom's influence ... into our society, ... we protect society from the full sway of evil ... that would otherwise ...be unleashed ... on the world.
Salt is also a flavoring... A seasoning ... But unless it is brought in contact with an object ... its influence is wasted.
Salt becomes invisible ... in order ... to have a visible affect.
Salt by itself ... is nothing more than little fine particles ... and in that state, ... they are worthless.
Yet when rubbed into the meat... or when added to food ... it becomes .... invisible ... and then becomes what it was intended for ... Influencing the flavor.
Salt that just sits in a shaker ... is of no use.
It is much like a believer ... who becomes complacent ... who no longer shares grace ... who refuses to take a moral stand ... who refuses to share their faith.
They are sitting ... in the shaker.
When Jesus says ... "You are the salt of the earth" ... He is not saying ... you should be the salt of the earth ... or you could be ... the salt of the earth.
He is stating a fact ... by accepting him as your Savior and Lord ... you are the salt of the earth.
You ... in the Greek ... is plural.
You ... You as a Believer ... are salt.
This is not an option.
The only choice is .... what kind of salt you will be?
Jesus not only states that you are the salt of the earth, ... he also says .... you are light ... you are the light of the world.
And as we all know ... light is a ...... "source of illumination."...... Light Dispels ... darkness.
Christians, ... are like a mirror ... reflecting the light of Christ.
In a way ... bearing his light ... to dispel spiritual darkness.
We know that ... Light ... reveals ...... truth.
Have you ever been in a dark room ... when someone turns on a bright light?
Flash, ... it's like a small explosion ... and you quickly cover your eyes.
But soon your eyes become accustomed to the light ...and you can look around ... and see the beauty ... and the colors ... that surround you.
As Christ's presence in our world, ... We become his instruments ... to reveal his truth. ... to a world ... that is in darkness.
We are to be the light of the world, ... awakening men and women ... to the truth of the Kingdom's arrival, ... awakening society ... to the presence of God.
Hear again Gods Word:
BIBLE "You are ... the salt of the earth ... you are ... the light of the world." END (Matthew 5:13-14).
When Jesus said, ..."You . . ." he meant ...... "You,"
Each of You!
Beloved ... If you are salt, ...... then it is time to season!
"If you are light, ...... then it is time to ... shine!"
Just as salt is different than pepper, ... and light is distinct from darkness, ... so are Christians distinct ... from the world.
Have you ever been with a group of people ... and someone started to tell an off-colored joke ... then they stopped in mid-sentence ... after looking at you?
Your distinctiveness ... was shining through.
Have you ever been with a group of people ... and they suggested going somewhere ... or doing something ... that they would never want their children or spouse to know about, ... but then stopped ... because you ... were with them?
Your distinctiveness ... was shining through.
Jesus went on to warn his followers, BIBLE "But if the salt loses its saltiness, ... how can it be made salty again? ... It is no longer good for anything, ... except to be thrown out ... and trampled by men" END (Matthew 5:13 ).
Beloved .... it is dangerously easy for Christians to become diluted ... and lose their saltiness, ... to lose their preserving influence ... in the world.
If you are not affecting the world, ... then ... the world is affecting ... you.
If you are not salting the world, ... then ... the world is rotting ... you.
So, ... the question you need to ask yourself is:
Are you affecting ... the world ... OR is the world ...affecting You?
As a child, ... the author ... Robert Louis Stevenson ... who wrote many books including the wonderful story ... Treasure Island ... was in very poor health.
One night, ... when he was quite sick, ... his nurse found him ... with his nose pressed against the frosty pane ... of his bedroom window.
"Child, ... come away from there. .... You'll catch your death of cold," ... she fussed, ... but young Robert would not budge.
He was mesmerized ... as he watched an old lamplighter ... slowly work his way through the black night .... lighting each streetlamp ... along his route.
"See, look there," Robert pointed. ... "There's a man ... poking a hole ... in the darkness." (Pause)
Beloved ... That is what we are called to do, ... To poke holes ... in the darkness.
The world may claim ... that Christianity is of no use to them ... that Christians ... are no longer needed.
Yet it is the salt ... and light of Christians.
The prayers of the followers of the Christ ... that are holding back ... the full on-slot of evil ... on this world.
A Christian's seasoning ... is something to be tasted.
A Christian's light ... is something to be seen.
Secret discipleship ... does not exist ... in God's kingdom.
Either ... secrecy destroys discipleship, ... or discipleship ... destroys secrecy. REPEAT
Salt in a shaker ... or a light under a bushel basket ... makes no impact.
A Christian ... void of visible deeds of compassion ... ...influences ...... no one.
What message ... will you leave ... the world?
Beloved ... each life makes a difference ... each and every life ... Your life ... makes an impact ... upon humankind.
No one ... can detach themselves ... from this connection.
There is no spot in the universe, ... no dark niche ... of nonexistence.
No place ... where you can withdraw the influence ... of your existence ...upon others.
Your presence ... or your absence ...makes a difference.
Your presence or your absence ... will be felt.
It will be felt ... Everywhere.
Your family, ... your friends, ... all who enter your life ... who will be better ... or worse ...because .... of you.
Are you poking holes ... in the darkness?
O' Beloved... your life does make a difference.
Your life leaves an imprint ... on all.
Yes ... A Christian's seasoning ... is something to be tasted.
A Christian's light ... is something to be seen.
Sing
This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, Let it shine ... Let it shine.
Beloved .... Are you Seasoning the Earth with your salt.
Are you Poking Holes ... in the Darkness.
You are ... the salt of the earth!
You are ... the light of the world.
Amen and Amen!
(Five Additional Illustrations Below:)
This Message is based on a Sermon by Rick Ezell Titled: "Making a Lasting Impact" and I commend it to you.
Help: I retired in November 2017 and am attempting to supplement my income by sharing on Sermoncentral. If this Message has been helpful to you, please consider a nominal donation: Send to The Rev. Jeff Smead 11725 Regent Park Drive Chardon Ohio 44024. Blessed To Be A Blessing.
Dear Reader: So I can better help you, if this Message was not helpful and you rated it low, Please let me know what it lacked or why it was not helpful. You can search by contributor Smead. (Constructive Criticism is very helpful) and contact me there. Blessings Always Jeff
1)President Woodrow Wilson ... shared this story.
He said, ... "I was sitting in a barber chair ... when I became aware ... that a personality ... had entered the room.
A man had come quietly in ... upon the same errand as myself, ... to have his hair cut, ... and sat in the chair next to me.
Every word the man uttered, ... though it was not in the least didactic, ... showed a personal interest ... in the man ... who was cutting his hair.
Yet before I was through, ... I was aware ... that I had attended an evangelistic service, ... because Mr. D.L. Moody ... was in that chair.
"I purposely lingered in the room after he had left ...and noted the singular effect ... that his visit had brought upon ... the barber shop.
They talked in undertones.
They didn't know his name, ... but they knew that something had elevated their thoughts.
And I felt that I left that place ... as I should have left ... the place of worship.
My admiration ... and esteem for Mr. Moody ... became very deep indeed."
2)When Martin Luther, ... was being confronted ... by those who were branding him as a heretic ... and about to take his life, ... he proclaimed, "I will not recant, I cannot deny that which is true."
Beloved ... That is the way we all are also called to live.
3)A young salesman was disappointed about losing a big sale; ... and, as he talked with his sales manager, ... he lamented, ... "I guess it just proves ...you can lead a horse to water ...but you can't make him drink."
The manager replied, ... "Son, take my advice: ... Your job is not to make him drink.
Your job is to make him thirsty."
Are you making anyone in your life thirsty ... thirsty to know Christ?
Beloved ... Your lifestyle should exude such a flavor ... that it creates in others ... a hunger and thirst ... For the gospel.
4)A king asked his three daughters ... how much they loved him.
Two of them replied ...that they loved him ... better than all the gold and silver in the world.
The youngest one said ... she loved him better than salt.
The king was not pleased with her answer, ... as he thought salt ... was not very palatable.
But the cook, overhearing the remark, ... put no salt in anything ...for breakfast next morning, ... and the meal was so insipid ... that the king could not enjoy it.
The cook then shared with the King what he had done.
He then saw the force of his daughter's remark.
She loved him so well ... that nothing was good without him.
5) As we all are aware ... Salt can create thirst.
It has been said that you can lead a horse to water ... but you can't make him drink.
But, ... the rest of the saying goes, ... No but you can give a horse salt ... and making him thirsty.
As Jesus made people thirsty for God the Father, ... so too ... Christians make people thirsty ... for the real life ... found only in Christ Jesus.
(Four Additional Illustrations Below):
