"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." {Matthew 5:13-16}

"It is a well-known fact that the salt in Palestine, when in contact with the ground, or exposed to rain and sun, becomes insipid and useless. Due to the manner in which it is gathered, earth and other impurities are necessarily collected with it. Not a little of it is so impure that it cannot be used at all; and such salt soon effloresces (changes to powder because of exposure) and turns to dust--not however, to fruitful soil. It is not only good for nothing itself, but it actually destroys all fertility wherever it is thrown...No man will allow it to be thrown on his field, and the place for it is in the street; and there it is cast, to be trodden under the foot of men." (Thomson, "Land and the Book", pg.382. 1887, quoted in Pulpit Commentary).

Salt is a preserving agent. So should be the life of a Christian. Salt also has a savoring agent; thus making it more palatable to God, and possibly to others. Perhaps it enables God to put up with the "distasteful" flavor of the world's wickedness. What happens when the "salt" of God's people is missing from the world? Misery, apostasy, apathy, and wickedness are not far away. Salt can also kill undesirable things. It kills certain bacteria, or prevents its growth. Christian teaching and living will show the end of all ungodly practices. Our lives must come into contact with this world if we are going to have a preserving effect on it. I'm told that just a little salt can greatly affect a great mass. Is this not exactly what our Father in heaven expects from us? We are the saving agents of the good in the world. Even though outnumbered by the wicked, we can still have a lasting, good effect on society.

"You are the light of the world." Jesus made a clear distinction between "you" and the "world." Christians are the lights for those in the world who are in spiritual darkness. "While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them." {John 12:36} We are also told that the gospel gives light to the world. Read 2 Corinthians 4:4.

Why are we referred to as lights? Because of our relationship with the "light of the world," (John 8:12). We have been cleansed by the blood of Christ; this allows us to continue to "walk" in the light and have our sins cleansed. (1 John 1:7-10). We must reflect this light in the lives we live before the world. "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." {2 Corinthians 4:6} Light is active. Light enables people to see. It guides men out of sin's darkness into the light of Christ and His word. It must be VISIBLE, and it must RADIATE. Is your light shining so those who are lost in sin can see? Does your life have the "savoring flavor" of godly living in an ungodly world? Finally, if we are not the "salt and light" of this world, what chance of finding God do men have? God is depending on us!