You are the salt of the earth. 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 underfoot.

In one of my favorite movies, The Man from Snowy River, Jim brings his girlfriend Jessica to Spur’s house, his deceased father’s partner. He had a large quarter of salted beef hanging in his house. It was a “stray animal that lost its way” right into his home. Here, salt was used to preserve goodness in the food.

My wife likes to make some amazing eggs for me; my kids like them hard with salt and pepper. Here, salt is used as a spice, to liven up the flavor.

And when I was a kid, and I had a canker sore, my mom would have me gargle salt, which would act to dry up and seal up the sore as a healing agent.

So the salt metaphor applies for us as Christians in the world in these same ways: we preserve the faith, protect the truth from decay, and heal the hearts wounded in this world, by the power of God’s Spirit.

And when Jesus says that the salt can lose its saltiness, it is likely referring to salt that absorbs water and becomes less salty and more clumpy. It becomes useless. In the same way, when we as Christians absorb the sinful ways of this world, our saltiness is diminished. We do not bring the enhanced loving qualities of our Savior into our relationships, like salt brings flavor. Instead, when we compromise on the truth and chart our own path to righteousness, we are living a watered-down faith.

A watered-down faith, contaminated by the world, is useless, and utterly abhorrent to God. We were destined for greatness in the impact we have to season the world with the love, goodness and truth of God through his Word. We were designed to be the Salt of the World, with God on the throne. But one who turns from this calling and into sin risks being cast out and trampled on by God in judgment, because they have become arrogant and proud.

Lord, teach me to humble myself before you and your sovereignty. Help me to know the joy of being purified salt in a world of diluted purity. May I shine your glory and may it be attractive and draw many to you!