HOW CAN OUR SALTINESS BE RESTORED

 

 

Matt. 5:13

 

Prayer

 

The New Revised Standard Version our text reads, "You are the salt of the ÝÝÝ

earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored?î

ìIt is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.î

 

Can salt really lose itís saltiness?

Pure salt canít.

 

But two thousand years ago, the people didnít have pure salt.

Their salt usually came from evaporated sea water.

 

It was often improperly packaged;

Improperly stored and transported;

 

Exposed to dirt, rain and the sun.

Some salt was so impure it wasnít even salty.

 

It was insipid.

The people often poured it out on the path to their front door.

 

It killed the grass;

Hardened the soil;

 

Made a better path to walk on.

Jesus said, ìYou are the salt of the earth.î

 

But He divided salt into two categories:

Good salt that flavors and preserves;

 

And bad salt thatís contaminated.

He urged us to be good salt.

 

And warned us about the danger of living a life thatís inconsistent with the ÝÝÝ

gospel.

The ancient Greeks were famous for plays in large amphitheaters.

 

But two thousand years ago the actors didnít have cameras to project their ÝÝ

image on large screens;

They didnít have microphones to amplify their voice for the large crowds.

 

So they used large masks that could be seen way up in the stands;

Large masks with built in megaphones to amplify their voice.

 

The actors went on stage to portray another person.

They pretended to be someone else.

 

The Greek name for these actors was ìhypocrites.î

Thatís what Jesus was talking about;

 

People who pretend to be someone else.

They are hypocrites.

 

One of my first jobs was at a soap factory.

We boiled soap in large kettles.

 

The boiling soap gave off steam.

Those who worked around the soap kettles sweated a lot.

 

When a personís body loses too much moisture and salt, their life is ÝÝ

threatened.

We took salt tablets.

 

They werenít contaminated salt tablets.

But suppose they were.

 

Suppose the salt tablets didnít contain much salt.

Salt tablets that donít contain much salt are worthless.

 

Throw them away.

Get good salt tablets.

 

Thatís the problem:

Church members who arenít salty.

 

Some Church members never were salt.

Some Church members got contaminated by the world and lost their saltiness.

 

Their life, their goals, their dreams, their desires caused them to abandon their ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ

obedience to God.

He cannot and will not bless this disobedience.

 

Unsalty Church members have some people fooled,

Most are fooling their selves,

 

But theyíre not fooling God.

In college Chemistry, I was given an unknown compound and asked to ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ

identify it.

 

I looked at it and said, ìAnybody can tell this is salt.î

I touched some to my tongue (spit).

 

I quickly learned one of the differences between salt and potash.

God knows the difference between real salt and something that looks like ÝÝÝÝÝ

salt;

 

The difference between real Church members and pretend Church members.

And He will cast the pretend Church members into hell.

 

Today, Iím asking, ìHow can our saltiness be restored?î

And I want to discuss four Bible examples.

 

Our 1st example of restoration concerns the Jews in Isaiahís day.

God said, ìI have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled

against meî (Isa. 1:2).

 

He used a little humor.

ìThe OX knoweth his owner, and the MULE his master's crib:î

 

ìBut Israel doth not knowî (Isa. 1:3).

Have you ever heard the expression: ìDumb as an ox,î

 

ìStubborn as a mule?î

God was saying, ìA dumb OX knows his ownerís voice .î

 

ìA stubborn MULE knows who feeds him.î

But my people donít know my voice.

 

And they donít know who feeds them.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee told about a little boy who was raised in a Christian ÝÝÝÝÝ

home.

 

He visited people who werenít Christians.

They sat down for his first meal away from home.

 

But they didnít ask the blessing.

ìDonít you thank God for your food,î the little boy asked?

 

ìNo,î replied his friendís mom.

The little boy blurted out, ìThatís what my dog does.î

 

ìHe just starts eating.î

Many Church members donít recognize the voice of God.

 

We attend Church.

But we fail to recognize that God is speaking to us out of the Word when the ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ

Scriptures are read, taught and preached.

 

Many Church members donít know who feeds us.

We have the best food in the world.

 

But we donít know that God gives it to us.

Isaiah told the Jews, ìYou have forsaken the Lord.î

 

ìYou have gone away backwardsî (Isa. 1:4).

God said, ìWhen ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from ÝÝÝÝÝ

you:î

 

ìYea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hearî (Isa. 1:15).

Do you understand what God was saying?

 

He was saying, ìIf you donít start hearing my voice, the time will come when ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ

you will make many prayers.î

ìAnd I wonít hear your voice.î

 

Have you ever felt like God wasnít listening to your prayers?

Perhaps, you havenít been listening to the voice of God.

 

ìIgnoring God may not seem important to us.î

ìSliding backwards may not seem important to us.î

 

ìBut itís important to God.î

It comes back to us in the form of unanswered prayers.

 

Hereís the good news.

The Jews could make things right.

 

God would forgive them.

He said, ìWash you,î

 

ìMake you clean;î

ìPut away the evil of your doings from before mine eyesî (Isa. 1:16).

 

ìLearn to do wellî (Isa. 1:17).

ìCome now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD:î

 

ìThough your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;î

ìThough they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.î

 

ìIf ye be (1) willing and (2) obedient,î

ìYe shall eat the good of the landî (Isa. 1:18-19).

 

ìWash youî means clean up your life.

ìPut away your evil doingsî means stop doing things that are wrong.

 

ìLearn to do wellî means learn to do what God wants you to do.

The hypocrisy in our life can be red as scarlet.

 

But God can make it white as snow.

It can be red as crimson.

 

But God can make it white as wool.

If we will do what the Word of God says, our saltiness will be restored.

 

Our 2nd example of restoration concerns the Jews in Ezekielís day.

God said, Whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ

warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be ÝÝÝÝÝÝ

upon his own head.î

 

ìHe heard the sound of the trumpet,î

ìAnd took not warning;î

 

ìHis blood shall be upon him.î

ìBut he that taketh warning shall deliver his soulî (Ezek. 33:4-5).

 

God was saying, ìWhen people sin, give them a clear warning.î

ìIf they die without listening, their blood is on their own head.î

 

ìBut if they listen, they will be saved.î

It was 1969.

 

Hurricane Camille was bearing down on the coast of Mississippi.

The National Weather Service warned everyone to leave the area.

 

Twenty people decided to stay.

They would throw a hurricane party.

 

They would celebrate in a building just 250 feet from shore.

Darkness came.

 

Camille was growing stronger.

The police chief knocked on the door.

 

He warned everyone to leave.

They refused.

 

He asked the names of their next of kin.

They laughed.

 

But they gave him the names.

At 10:15 p.m., Camille came ashore with winds that exceeded 200 mph.

 

Nothing was left of the building where the party took place.

The only survivor that could be found was a five year old boy.

 

Who was responsible?

Was it the National Weather Service that issued the warning? No!

 

Was it the police chief who took down the names of the next of kin? No!

Those who rejected the warning were responsible for their own death.

 

Itís that way with those whoíve lost their saltiness.

Theyíve heard the gospel;

 

Joined the Church;

Vowed to attend.

 

But their promises were like the morning dew.

In some cases, preachers, Sunday School teachers, friends and neighbors ÝÝÝ

have talked to them;

 

Their conscience convicted them;

Problems developed;

 

Sickness struck in their family;

The death bell tolled for a friend or a loved one.

 

Warnings came.

But they chose to keep on being contaminated salt.

 

Some say, ìI donít like the preacher.î

Or, ìI donít like whatís going on at Church.î

We donít want to lose anyone.

But there are other preachers;

 

And other Churches.

So excuses wonít wash with God.

 

One farmer said to another,Ý ìYou work several thousand acres of crop.î

ìHow can you find time to go fishing so much?î

 

The second farmer replied, ìI donít FIND time to go fishing.î

ìI MAKE time to go fishing.î

 

Thatís the way it is with those whoíve lost their saltiness.

If they wanted to, they could make time for God.

 

Theyíre not making time for God because theyíve decided not to make time

for God.

God said, ìThereís no need for me to punish these people;î

 

ìNo need for them to continue in their rebellion.î

He said, ìIt doesnít matter who they are;î

 

ìWhere they are;î

ìHow deep theyíve fallen in sin.î

 

ìI want them back.î

And what He told them is very important.

 

ìAs I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the Ý

wicked;î

ìBut that the wicked turn from his way and live:î

 

ìTurn ye, turn ye from your evil ways;î

ìFor why will ye dieî (Ezek. 33:11)?

 

God loved these people.

He didnít want them to perish.

 

He asked them to turn around.

Turn around before itís too late;

 

Turn around before He had to bring them before the Judgment Bar.

Our 3rd example of restoration concerns the Church at Ephesus.

 

Jesus said, ìThou hast left thy first loveî (Rev. 2:4).

He added, ìI have somewhat against thee.î

 

These are awful words.

I hope I never hear Jesus say, ìI have somewhat against thee.î

 

What was it?

They didnít love Jesus as much as they use to.

 

This is the problem of those who have lost their saltiness.

They got off to a good start;

 

Had some knowledge of the Scriptures;

Were attending Sunday School, worship services, Revivals, etc.;

Were serving the Lord.

But their love started dying.

 

They lost their zeal;

They transferred their loyalty to other things;

 

Stopped having time for Jesus.

He said remember the way it used to be and repent.

 

Restoring our saltiness requires repentance;

Turning around;

 

Going back to the good things we once did.

A great preacher named Dr. Henry Ward Beecher got sick.

 

He asked a substitute to preach for him.

Several Church members came out of Sunday School,

 

Saw they had a substitute preacher,

And started to leave.

 

The substitute preacher saw them heading for the doors.

He stepped up to the pulpit and said, ìAll who came here to worship Dr. ÝÝÝÝÝ

Beecher this morning should leave.î

 

ìAll who came here to worship the Lord this morning should stay in their ÝÝÝÝÝ

seats.î

Several people sat back down.

 

If we donít worship the Lord when we attend Church, weíre either pretending ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ

to be salt.

Or our love is dying.

 

Itís time to repent.

And Jesus said, if we donít repent, two things will happen:

 

There will come a time of judgment.

And a time when Jesus will no longer let us be salt in the world.

 

Itís a privilege to serve God;

To earn rewards in heaven.

 

If we stop serving God, He will give us many chances to repent.

But if we donít repent, the time will come when we will no longer be asked to ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ

serve Him.

 

Our 4th example of restoration concerns the Church at Laodicea.

Jesus said, ìI know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot:î

 

ìI would thou wert cold or hot.î

ìSo then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ

out of my mouthî (Rev. 3:15-16).

 

He told these Church members, ìYou have a little bit of love, but not much.î

ìYouíre not very obedient.î

 

ìYouíre running your own life.î

Thatís the unsalty Church member.

 

He doesnít come right out and say, ìIíve decided to turn my back on Jesus.î

He just makes excuses;

 

Letís the sin of complacency prevail in his life.

Jesus doesnít want this.

 

He said, ìBe zealous, therefore, and repentî (Rev. 3:19).

He added, ìTo him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throneî Ý

(Rev. 3:21).

 

Before he became president of the United States, Calvin Coolidge was vice ÝÝ

president.

As vice president, he presided over the senate.

 

One day, two senators got into a hot debate.

One Senator told another to ìgo straight to hell [the bad place].î

 

The offended Senator complained to vice president Coolidge.

ìYouíre the presiding officer.î

 

ìDo something about what he said.î

Vice president Coolidge replied, ìI have.î

 

ìIíve checked the rule book.î

ìYou donít have to go.î

 

God said, ìYouíve lost your saltiness.î

ìBut you donít have to perish.î

 

ìYou can abandon your complacency.î

ìServe me with fervor.î

 

ìAnd everything will be alright.î

Paul talked about this.

 

He gave two reasons for obeying God.

The first reason for obeying God concerns His promises.

 

If we will be faithful to God, He promised to bless us in ways the world ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ

cannot.

Good things will happen to us that would never happen otherwise.

 

The second reason for obeying God concerns respect for God.

Those who respect God cannot be indifferent about His will for their life.

 

If a Church member has lost his saltiness, he needs to change.

His family needs for him to change.

 

His Church needs for him to change.

The world needs him to change.

 

And Jesus wants him to change.