Upside Down Batteries

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.  You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."  (Matthew 5:13-16)

Imagine sitting down to one of those great meat and potato meals--no frills, just wholesome hearty goodness all over your plate.  But as substantial and nourishing as one of those dinners is, it's also one of the first kinds that you're going to smile at (what...so I smile at my meals...sue me!) and reach for the salt to add that flavor that really puts the food right where it needs to be for the overall taste that it's otherwise lacking.  You start sprinkling it on and out comes...sand.  Sad day.  Oh, sad day.  No more smiles.  The salt shaker gave every indication that it was ready to deliver as you picked it up, but no such luck.

Or how about this?  You're on a camping trip trying to navigate your way at night down the trail between the outhouse and your site.  You ask your companion for the flashlight he brought as you lead the way, but upon receiving it, when you try to turn it on, it gives you nothing.  Puzzled, you look to your friend who says, "Oh, it works, I just put the batteries in upside down to save the juice."  Brilliant.  (Then, if it's a mag-light at least, you know where to swing that puppy.)

Unsalty salt and hidden light...that's what Jesus speaks out against as He continues talking to those who have followed Him up the mountain.  He wanted to let them know that it's no good having something wonderfully helpful that you basically treat as worthless.  Nobody benefits because nothing good is spread--this is the tragedy that our lives become if we have the truth of the saving gospel and don't share it or act out from it as it "salts" and lights up our own lives.  If Jesus is our everything, if He is the salt in our shakers, the Energizer batteries charging our lights, and the wind in our sails as we head through our day, that's simply going to change things.  People are going to notice, and when they do, Jesus says that this is such a spectacular thing because more glory ends up being given to the Father.  Loving self-sacrifice becomes our way, the sweet and ripe fruit of the Spirit starts getting enjoyed by those around us as it oozes out of our lives.  Salt and light is spread.

Again, these are among the words that Jesus says, if we keep them, will make us like the wise man who built his house upon the steady, anchoring rock.  So what's coming out of our shakers?  If God is our fuel and motivation, it ought to be the salt that makes the meal.