In early April, 1930 a man of 61 years old, firm of step and a staff in hand, reached Dandi after walking 241 miles in 24 days and defiled the law by making salt. The British had to arrest the satyagrahis (soldiers of civil disobedience) and Indians courted arrest in millions. There was panic in the administration. And Indian freedom struggle finally gathered momentum both inside and outside of India. Yes, I am talking about Mahatma Gandhi whose birthday we celebrate on 2nd Oct, the Father of the Nation. This is what Nehru had written of Gandhi, “clear-eyed and firm of step, with his faithful band trudging along behind him. Many a journey he has undertaken in the past, many a weary road traversed. But longer than any that have gone before is this last journey of his, and many are the obstacles in his way. But the fire of a great resolve is in him and surpassing love of his miserable countrymen. And love of truth that scorches and love of freedom that inspires. And none that passed him can escape the spell, and men of common clay feel the spark of live. It is a long journey, for the goal is the independence of India and the ending of the exploitation of her millions.” A man stood up to break the law and bring the change. A simple act of making Salt shakes the British Empire! This is how India started producing it own Salt.
Salt is something very closely related to Christian living. Even Jesus labeled his followers as the Salt of the Earth. Symbolizing believers as salt, Jesus assures that we are inbuilt with all the quality of salt. Hence, God expects us to be ever useful in his hands.We are bought out from the Sea of Sins and are finally processed (refined) to shine as crystal in difficult time, just as Salt shines under the sun. We are left in the world to work as a catalyst among today’s youth and to effect darkness to dawn. In these days God is in a move to send the Latter Revival and Reformation and this time He is not looking for a Moses or Paul but for you and me (the Google Generation)! As Gandhi’s act shook the British Empire; God counts on us to shake the Satan’s Empire. Here I have portrayed two of the Bible characters as a reflection to what Jesus said in Mt: 5:13 about SALT the Catalyst(medium of Change).
1. Daniel the Dream Teller Daniel’s story begins with exile to Babylon as captive, away from parents, kits and keens (Dan 1:1, 2). Yet he never gave depression any chance to peep into his life. He was confident that the God he worships is Trust Worthy therefore he was never out of Faith (Rom 1:17). His faith on God blessed him with success in a foreign land and doubtless faith brought him out alive from the Loin’s Den. It was Daniel’s faith that made king completely distressed when Daniel was in den and Nebuchadnezzar was eagerly waited for morning (Dan 6:14, 18-20). His unshakeable faith shook the king, the kingdom and its alliance. The impact of Daniel’s faith made the king Nebuchadnezzar to publicly confess that the God whom Daniel worships is the True Living God (Dan 6:25-17)Daniel proved to be an Incredible Witness (Gal 2:20), he proved to be Salt the Catalyst. He was Salt to the land where he was a captive. His fellowship strengthened his friends’ faith that even they also were firm in believed and their faith generated the boldest statement in the whole book (Dan 3:16-18). This is how the Faith we exercise daily in our family, work spot, schools colleges and etc have a big role to play for the change in people around us just as Salt leaves it taste were ever it is. Bible says “Faith moves mountains” and it is your turn to prove you for Christ. Here is the Master’s call to be the Salt that adds a taste of salvation to the tasteless lives around you! Are you ready to leave an impact!
2. Solomon, the wisest King Solomon the Wisest King ever lived. David’s son by Bathsheba… (2 Sam 12:24), anointed over opposition… (1 King 1:5-48), he purged his kingdom of corrupt leaders… (1King 2:11-46), he prayed for wisdom and was blessed by God much much more than what he asked for….(1 King 3:1-15) in short he was born with famous identity(son of King David man, not just peoples favourite but also a man after God’s own heart) and was blessed to be unique (1King 3: 11-14). He built the temple of God which his father David desired to but God choose Solomon to do so. Solomon had an identity by which people knew him and were eager to meet him in person, as did Queen of Sheba travelling a long distance (1 King 10:1-13). The only one thing which has been repeatedly repeated to Solomon by God was this small line “If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days”.(1King 3:14) and All wazzz well so far (1 King3:3). Chapter 11 of the same book notes the fall of the Famous king into polygamy and idolatry breaking the law of God (duet 17:17) whom he loves and whom God loved much more. Solomon’s one Wrong Turn (wrong decision) led him to lose his identity. He was famous because of his wisdom and his folly made him stand as a foolish at the end of his story. Solomon miserably failed to keep his identity until the end.
This is how Satan schemes against the young people whom God chose to use mightily and who desires to be used by God. Many times this very simple thing becomes difficult to comprehend that “if we have once committed our lives to God then why we still continue to take our own decisions that ultimately affect God and His plans”. We need to understand that “Being tempted is not a sin but yielding to the temptation is a sin”.Jesus said “If salt has lost its taste (Identity), how its saltiness shall be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet” Mt 5:13. The challenge knocking at the door for today’s Salt is to maintain the Identity of its Saltiness. Let the Salt continue to add the taste of Faith without losing its Identity. Never forget this fact that we are built with sufficient potential to bring change, we are here on earth to make a difference just as SALT. It’s all about Salt the Catalyst!
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