Title Like Light and Salt (08. 9. 7)
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Title: Like Light and Salt
Text: Matthew 5:13-16
It was September 1948, three years after the end of World War II. A Japanese student named Michiko Inugai was on the limited express train running from New York to Los Angeles in the west. She was on her way to a tuberculosis sanatorium in what is now Monrovia. The flight attendant asked, “Where are you going?” to her, who was limp due to severe lung disease. When I replied that I was going to the Monrovia hospital, the flight attendant was confused. This was because the Monrovia station was so small that the express trains did not stop. Miss Michiko knew about it too and was worried.
After a while, the following announcement came out through the loudspeaker in the train: “Passengers, a Japanese student is on board this train who is visiting Monrovia Hospital. The train does not stop at Monrovia station, but she has been given permission to make a temporary stop by the railway headquarters for the sake of her ill. Please forgive me for any inconvenience.” All passengers were delighted as if they were their own. The Japanese schoolgirl, moved by the surprising favor, shed hot tears. At Monrovia Station, the stationmaster and an ambulance were waiting to meet you. To the girl who got off the train, the passengers said, “Be brave. You need to get well soon.” This girl thought, “Oh, such a country that serves God.” She realized the greatness of the Christian faith when she saw that such kindness and love were alive for ordinary citizens. That's right. This is the beautiful image of God's children. This is the beautiful image of Christians living by light and salt.
The text of the Bible we read today refers to us who serve God, saying, “You are the salt of the world. You are the salt of the world.” How should we live, compared to the light and salt of this world?
一. You have to influence your life as salt gives flavor.
Verse 13 says, “You are the salt of the world; if salt loses its taste, with what is it salted? Salt was very valuable in ancient societies. Salt was so precious that the Romans sang, “There is nothing more useful than the sun and salt.” It is generally said that salt has three roles.
1. Salt symbolizes purity.
The Romans considered the white color of salt to be the purest because it came from the pure sun and sea. When Jesus said you are the salt of the world, Christians are to be examples of chastity in the world. Chastity is beautiful and healthy. So, purity lasts. We must preserve the purity of conscience, the purity of chastity, and furthermore, the purity of faith. This purity is what makes life, family, and society beautiful, healthy, and prosperous.
2. Salt prevents spoilage.
What if it is corrupt and rotten? The end of corruption is abandonment. It's a treadmill that is trampled on. Destruction. Because it's garbage. A corrupt conscience ruins your life. If justice is corrupt, the country will perish. When faith is corrupted, the glory of God is trampled on, and the grace of God is lost. As Christians, we must become the salt of the world, so that we can live and be life-workers who save the world. To become salt and prevent corruption, this is the mission given to the saints who serve God.
3. Salt flavors food.
No matter how rich the soup is, if you don't add salt, it won't taste good. This is a message that we Christians are to be the salt that gives the taste of life. There are many people in the world who lose the meaning of life and live indulgently. There are many people who do not know the happiness of life and live in emptiness and despair. However, the life of Christians living in the Gospel has a clear meaning and purpose. There is joy and laughter, there is reward and satisfaction, there is expectation and hope. With this, you have to live a life that gives the world a taste.
When St. Francis went out to preach on the street one day, several disciples followed him with great anticipation. But the monks were very disappointed. What St. Francis did on the streets that day was to listen to a passerby's ordinance, to help a farmer to harvest fruit, and to push a wagon carrying compost. A disciple complained: “I believed and expected to hear great sermons, but I am disappointed that you never preached.” St. Francis replied, “I preached more than ten sermons today.”
what do you mean? Living preaching is what sustains the weak, helps the needy, and comforts those who sigh in daily life. Preaching in action, this is also the way we Christians become the salt of the world. Living according to the word of God at home or at work wherever you are, benefiting and edifying others is the salty life of the world.
The characteristic of salt is that it dissolves when added to food and loses its shape. So it tastes. If the salt does not dissolve, it cannot be flavored. On the beach sand, there is a placer that has a shape similar to salt. What is the charge of placer and salt? it will melt. Let's say you put salt and placer of similar shape in your food. What would be the difference? The salt melts and loses its shape, giving the food its flavor. The placer, on the other hand, will hurt the teeth of the person who chews it.
There were twelve disciples of Jesus, and all eleven of them melted themselves like salt and devoted their lives to preaching the Christian gospel. All the disciples except the apostle John were sacrificed for martyrdom. But one person, Judas Iscariot, must have looked like a disciple, but he was like gold. What are the characteristics of Judas Iscariot? It did not melt. It was full of greed. Full of greed for eggplant. For his own benefit, for his own desire, he sold his teacher, Jesus. He is a person who has nothing he can't do if it is the path for himself. A thorough self-centered person, a thorough selfish person is Judas Iscariot.
Saints! God has called us the salt of the world. It is to make the world taste good. How? I must melt. I have to empty myself in me. Then many people will rejoice and rejoice because of me. Many people are happy because of me. Chuseok is just over a week away. I hope you will become salt to your family and friends after a long time. The way I must melt. Self-esteem, greed, and temper must also melt away. That way, many people will be happy because of the melted me. Everyone who watches this will change their perception of God because of me.
二. It should be the light that illuminates the dark places.
In verses 14-15, Jesus said, “You are the light of the world; a city on a hill cannot be hidden. People light a lamp and put it not under a lamp, but on a lampstand, and therefore give light to everyone in the house.” Jesus said we Christians are the light of the world. To tread the dark world with a light life, and to guide the way to the lost. The lights are off, but it's mana. Lights should always be on. When the fire of love, the fire of truth, is always burning in the hearts of us Christians, we can become the light of the world and light up the dark world.
There is a man named Jang-hyeon Lee (49) who has been driving a taxi for several years after failing in business. He told me he had an experience. One day, I stopped in front of a female college student and grandmother waving at Seodaemun. The female college student said, “Please take my grandmother to Dongdaemun Ewha University Hospital,” and gave her a ten-won bill. The taxi driver said to the grandmother, “You have a very pretty granddaughter. It must be very good.” He praised. Then the grandmother said, “I am not a granddaughter. We first met in front of the subway station. He said he was lost, so he held my hand and took me to a taxi. Also, believe in Grandma, Jesus and live a long, long life. She told me to be careful while I was there.” Grandma got lost while leaving the house to get a spit that morning and wandered around town all morning until she met the student. When Grandma got off, the taxi driver put the 10,000 won into her hands. After that, he said he felt more comfortable and proud.
The good deeds of one person have the power to awaken the good deeds of others. This is the property of light. Wherever the light enters, it becomes bright. And the light spreads further. Christians are the light of the world. You have to live in a dark place. One person's obedience brings another good. I hope that you will become saints who live as the light that illuminates the world by receiving the light of the Lord who is the light.
three. We must glorify God by living a light life.
In verse 16, Jesus said, “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” We Christians who serve God have a clear purpose in life. Whatever you do, you are giving back the glory of God. Because this is the purpose for which God created man. As children of God, we live a life of light and salt in order to reveal the glory of God. The Christian life is not aimed at revealing ourselves, but rather to revealing God.
Following the Union's victory in the American Civil War, Congress proposed that the names of Secretary of Defense Stanton and all other generals be engraved on the walls of the Capitol, and their honor will go down in history. Then Secretary Stanton said, “No, the writing on the wall must be Psalm 118:23, not the name of a man.” It is recorded in this Psalm: “This is what the Lord has done. It is a strange baro in our eyes.” Yes. It is God who will be glorified. He saw God working in the victory of war. So, instead of revealing his own name, he tried to reveal the name of God.
Let me finish my speech.
Many athletes, including weightlifter Jang Mi-ran, who won a gold medal at the last Olympic Games, and judo athlete Min-ho Choi, were able to see them praying to God for their victory after winning. It was to glorify God. How beautiful and humble are you?
When we live as light with salt, we bring joy to those around us.
If we live with salt and light, society will change.
If we live as light with salt, many people will come back to the Lord by following this light.
If we live as light with salt, great glory comes to God.
May this life be the life of all of us.