Seasoning of Salt — 2: Trials

4 Seasoning of Salt—2: Trials

We have seen how the Lord Jesus Christ is gathering men who are to be like the salt of the earth. We have considered how salt plays an important part in our lives. People use salt for trees and crops. Many kinds of salt are found in the earth. You find the roots of plants travel very far in search of it. We have seen that for health also, salt is necessary. The bones, muscles and blood all require salt. Salt preserves vegetables, butter and ghee. We know how a small quantity of salt brings good taste to the food we eat every day. In every country, people require salt for their food. We see how salt speaks of joy, love, light and health. Now the Lord Jesus Christ came into this world to provide salt for the health, joy, life and happiness of all mankind. Thus we have seen how in many countries, joy and health is being brought to many people through a small number of believers.

Divine X-ray reveals heart's condition Now we shall see in the Sermon on the Mount how we con become true salt. The salt is of no use for food while it is in the sea-water. It has to be separated from water and refined before it becomes useful. We have seen in Matthew 5:3 the first step in becoming refined, pure salt: 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for their's is the kingdom of heaven.' This is the first stage of the refining; we must come to God with a broken heart and a contrite spirit.

The second step in making us good salt is comfort in trials. 'Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted' (Matthew 5: 4). These words are full of meaning. We find that as soon as we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ from our hearts, we have to face situations which we had never thought of before. Before our conversion, our friends, relatives and parents praised us very much. But as soon as we decided to obey our Lord Jesus Christ, our friends became enemies! Our brothers and sisters, children and parents who loved us very much, have begun to hate us! In my family I am the eldest son. and so from childhood my mother, father, brothers and sisters showed me much love. They never said a word to wound me or hurt me. But when I became a Christian and the Lord Jesus Christ became my personal Saviour, changed my life and delivered me completely from my evil ways and gave me new life, then my relations and friends rejected me! When I came back to India in 1933, my parents met me in Bombay. My father said to me, 'only mother and I know that you are a Christian.' (I had written a long letter to my father telling him how the Lord had changed my life.) My father continued, 'We have not the least objection to your being a Christian. We will not stop you going to Christian meetings. You can go wherever you like and do whatever you like. We have only one request: as long as you are in our home, don't say that you are a Christian!' I said to my father, 'If the Lord Jesus Christ had not changed my life, I would have lived a life of sin, wasting money and doing all sorts of wicked things. But now the Lord Jesus Christ has delivered me and changed me and given me a new life. He has sent me to you to show you the way of salvation.' I continued, 'Supposing I close my mouth and nose, how long would I live? Similarly, now my Lord is my life. How can I live denying Him?' 'In that case', my father replied, 'you cannot come home!' Even though I had come back to India after seven years, they did not want me to go home. With tears my mother had written to me again and again while I was away,"We are counting the hours and days for you to come home." But when I actually came back I was not wanted! So. whatever money I had, I gave to my father as a sign of respect. He left me in Bombay and went away. What a sorrowful thing it was! At that time I thought, if I had come back to India as a drunkard and adulterer, they would have welcomed me. Now that my Lord had changed me and given me a new life, they did not want me! My mother began to weep at the railway station. and she said to me. For my sake won't you come home for a few days? What is the harm in saying that you are not a Christian? We are not going to stop you from reading the Bible and from praying. Perhaps if you come, many will become changed as you are." I told my mother that my God came first. But when I saw her crying more and more, a thought came to me. Let me go home for her sake. After all. she is my mother, I must respect her. I can go for just a few days.' I was about to say so. but something took hold of my throat. Words would not come out of my mouth. After a few moments, I heard these words, No man, having put his hand to the plough. and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Whosoever loveth father or mother, brother or sister more than Me is not worthy to follow Me.' So I said to my mother, I am sorry, my Lord comes first.' Then they both left me in Bombay and went away.

I was a complete stranger in Bombay. Not a single person there knew me. There was no money in my pocket and no place to go to. For some time I was very sad. But now 1 can thank God, even though for a period 1 was hated, despised and rejected, that very same sorrow was later turned into joy. My father had a dream in which he heard somebody saying, 'Your son has found peace, do not trouble him.' So my father came to me and took me home. There, he said to everybody, 'My son has found true peace, don't say a word against him.' At the same time he kept on abusing me and cursing me tor many days. All who came to the home would say to my parents, 'We are very sorry to hear about your son; what a sorrow!' This went on for many days. Right before me, they would begin to abuse and curse me.

Remember, there are times when we all have to go through sorrow and criticism. You cannot help but be sorrowful when your own brothers and sisters hate you, curse you and abuse you. But thank God, we are com - forted by our Lord Jesus Christ.

As time went on, God began to speak to all in my family in His own way. I allowed them to curse me and abuse me and I never said a single word against them. Also, in my heart 1 had no hatred for them. I thank God for the privilege of suffering reproach for my Lord's sake. After a few months, my mother became very ill. My brother sent for a doctor. The doctor came. He was a specialist. He said to my brother, 'She has got typhoid, you will have to be careful.' When the doctor went away, my mother said, 'My son, you pray for me, 1 don't want the doctor's medicine, you pray for me.' So I knelt down and prayed just a short prayer, 'Lord touch my mother and heal her.' That very evening her temperature became normal. She had no more fever. From that time onwards, whenever they are in difficulty and trouble, they write to me, 'Please pray for us.' I have a small nephew. He calls me, 'Praying uncle.' Whenever he sees me he says, 'Praying uncle is coming.' Whenever they are in trouble they write to me or call me. What a privilege! Whenever I go to my home-town or to my relations or my friends, many come to me saying, 'Please pray for us.' Thus you see, if we bear our sorrow and mourning cheerfully, afterwards others will be comforted through us. Those very ones who were cursing and abusing me, afterwards came to me for comfort. During those days the Lord drew near to me and said, 'I am with you always.' He became very dear to me in my sorrows. He took me through many sorrows for several years. I say it only for His glory. I spent many hours in tears. I was not wanted by anybody in the family. But the time came when they would call on me in their every need. Comforted to be of comfort A few years ago my third brother lost his eldest son, a young man of twenty-one years. He was knocked down by a train. It was a great shock to my brother and his wife. He would not eat or shave or even talk to anybody. When he came home and saw his son's body lying in the compound he fell down on top of it. His clothes got all stained with blood. He would not change those clothes for eight days. Many people came to console him. In fact almost the whole city came. On receiving the news I went by air to see him. When I saw his condition I did not know what to say to comfort him. He said to me, 'Tell me, where is your God now? What has happened to Him?' I kept quiet. I could not answer him. I just knelt down and prayed, 'Lord, comfort him; his sorrow is so great He has lost his eldest son, a very nice young man. If only Thou wilt comfort him, he will change.' That same day He got up, changed his clothes, shaved and went to work in his office. What a comfort that was! So we ourselves have to mourn, in order to be able to comfort others. In other words, 'Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted'. You will then be a source of comfort to other people. See 2 Corinthians 1:4-7. Paul was able to comfort many because he was a partaker of the sufferings of Christ.

Unless we learn how to mourn, how can others be comforted through us? It is a great privilege to be able to comfort others. Wherever we go, tears can be wiped away: tears of failure, disappointment, criticism and unhappiness. That is how we can become the salt of the earth. When we go to a sorrowing home, just a few words will make them feel comforted and strengthened. Prayer, love, or a few words of comfort bring joy to those that are mourning. But first, we ourselves have to learn how to mourn. So do not be surprised when your father or mother, brother or sister, wife or husband, children or friends or neighbours hate you, curse you and reproach you. The Lord may take you through many sufferings and afflictions. It may be physical trouble, or death in the family, or any failure or tragedy. The Lord allows that, so that we first of all may be comforted by Him. 'Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Some years ago, while I was in Canada, the weather was very cold. I had no money. I bought a tin of cocoa, and that was my only food for many days. One day, feeling very sad, I was walking in the street. I was saying in my heart, 'When I lived in sin, 1 had plenty of money and plenty of friends. Now that I am saved, I have no money and no friends!' I was feeling very sad. As I walked I saw a big building and went inside. There was an empty armchair and I sat down. Feeling hungry and tired, I went to sleep. As I was asleep on the chair, somebody put a hand on my shoulder and I heard a small voice saying, 'Why did you say you are lonely? Did I not tell you I will never leave you nor forsake you? Why are you sad?' I said, 'Lord, please forgive me for doubting Thee'. As I came outside the building and turned the corner, I saw a tall man. He came to me and said, 'Oh, I see you are from India!'

I Said, 'Yes'. 'My parents are eager to meet a man from India. Please come with me to my house. That is my car over there. I will take you home to meet my father and mother'. I did not know him. They say that in America people rob you in the day time. "They point a gun at you and take away your money. So I thought that he might be a thief. But I said to myself. '1 have no money and I have no watch—so why should I worry?' I went with him. It was a nice home by a lake. He said to me, 'We are so happy to have you; please stay for lunch'. Twice I said, 'No, thank you,'; but the third time, I consented, and they gave me a very nice meal. They became friends throughout my stay there. That is how the Lord encouraged me. In every sorrow, in every trial, He became dearer to me. That is how we become God's salt. Do you want to become God's salt? Receive Him and become His salt He says, 'Ye are the salt of the earth.' This is possible only when the Lord Jesus Christ comes into us. He must become your living Saviour. When He became my Saviour, I did not know anything about salvation, or new birth, or atonement. I did not know anything about the devil. But the Lord appeared to me and showed me the awfulness of all my sins. I saw my body covered with black spots and there was a filthy smell. He said to me, 'Bakht Singh, these spots which you are seeing, and the smell which you are getting, are because of your sins'. I replied, 'Yes, my Lord, it is true. I have covered my sins from everybody all these years, but today I confess them. I am a great sinner, totally defiled and very miserable.' Then a loving voice came, 'This is My body broken for you, and this is My blood shed for the remission of your sins'. I said, 'Lord, these words are beyond my understanding. I am so stupid. I don't know what these words mean, but I know they are Thy words. Although I do not understand, I believe them. Yes Lord, I am a sinner, I have sinned against Thee. I have spoiled my body. I have deceived my parents. Now I believe your body was broken for me, and your blood was shed for my sins'. Then came a small voice saying, 'Thy sins are forgiven thee'. From that time I was completely changed. My taste for sins was taken away. My loving Lord came into my heart. I thank God even now for that happy day. I was a blasphemer and yet He forgave me. I am not worthy that He should love me and make me His for eternity. I know He is a loving Saviour. He loves me. I beseech you, therefore, do not reject Him. Do not be afraid of suffering and sorrow. He will give you everlasting comfort He will lead you day by day. In every suffering He will say, 'My son, my daughter, I am with thee, do not be afraid'. I have proved Him in every sorrow. I love Him. He is my God. He will become your living Saviour. He will be - come very precious to you. If He has not yet become precious to you, let Him become so now. Amen.