Seasoning of Salt — 3: Meekness

5 Seasoning of Salt-—3: Meekness

'Ye are the salt of the earth'; 'Ye are the light of the world' (Matthew 5:13, 14). These two phrases are related to each other. Let me illustrate this by an example. When we feel very hungry, tired and worn-out, our faces look miserable. We have no desire to speak to anyone or to smile. Sometimes we feel like crying. But when we are given tasty food, the very same wornout faces begin to shine, and the eyes gleam with new light. That is how we feel spiritually when both light and salt come into our lives.

Hunger for Heavenly Joy We have seen how the Lord Jesus Christ has been seeking to save sinners with the object of making them as salt which will bring new joy, new peace and new light to mankind. The Lord Jesus Christ came into the world to give joy to man. In every era people have had a great desire for joy, but they do not know how to get it. They do not know who God is, where He is and how to find Him and talk to Him.

I remember the hunger and thirst I myself had in my unconverted days. According to the teaching of the Sikh religion, I thought God was very far away, and I used to wonder how human beings could ever get near Him. I thought that only a very few people would ever be able to see Him, and that too, only from a distance, and after many years of searching. Yet I used to pray in my childhood days, 'Oh God? who art Thou? Where art Thou? How can I find Thee?' Many times I repeated these words, but I only felt I was getting farther and farther away from God. In the same way there have been many men like me throughout the ages searching for God, longing for peace and trying to know Him as He is. In the end they have given up in despair.

One man came to me after wandering and searching for God seven years. He was a professor somewhere in •South India. He became so unhappy, that he left his job, wife and children and became a sadhu. His hair and nails began to grow very long. He visited about eighty-four holy places in search of God. His face was full of wrinkles. I asked him whether he had found God. He said with great sorrow, 'I have tried and failed'. Thus you will find all through the centuries there has been in many hearts a hunger to know God. During my stay in London, before my conversion, I asked many people, both rich and scholarly, whether they had found true happiness. None of them could truthfully say that they were happy.

Secret of that Heavenly Joy Heavenly joy has to be shared with others once we get it. We can never keep it to ourselves. We will have a desire and longing to share it with our neighbours, strangers, relations and anybody whom we may meet, even your enemies. Have you found that joy? Please tell me, how many people have found through you the same joy which you have? Your joy will become more as you share it. That is why our Lord says, "Ye are the salt of the earth'. Wherever you may be, you will spread happiness. We have seen also how we can become pure salt, that is, by having a poor spirit and a broken heart. We will be comforted by our Lord when our relations and friends begin to hate us or despise us. We have to go through every kind of sorrow to know divine comfort. Thus we will be trained to give comfort to others. Now, let us go further. (a) Meekness: In verse 5 we read, 'Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Many people have no idea how much God has planned to give to them. He will give us much more than we can ever think or imagine. But we would have to enter into God's heart to understand the privilege that is offered to us. Many years ago, a beggar came to me and begged for some money. I asked him for. what purpose he wanted the money. He said that he was hungry. I said to him, 'You come with me, I will get you a very good meal'. He walked along with me for a distance and then asked me to give him an anna. I told him that I was not making fun of him and that I meant what I said. After walking a little further, again he asked me to give him a very small coin saying that he would go away. I told him that we had almost reached the hotel. At last we came to the hotel. I told the manager to give the man whatever he wanted. Then I also asked the beggar to take whatever he liked. Afterwards I gave him tea also. I paid the bill. Further, I gave him eight annas. He questioned me whether it really was for him. I replied him in the positive. He was so used to receiving just the smallest coins that he could not see my heart nor understand the desire I had in my heart for him. In the same way, we also find it so hard to believe that God can offer us so much (cf. 1 Cor. 2:9 and 10; Matt 13:17 and Rev. 21:7). Are they not wonderful verses? 'Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.' Again, God's Word says that there were many prophets and righteous men who desired to see these things, but could not. God not only wants to forgive us our sins but He wants to give us all that He has.

Please see Matthew 11:28, 'Come unto me.' These are the wonderful words of the Lord Jesus Christ. No other person in the world's history ever spoke such words. Our Lord knows fully well what heavy burdens all of us have to carry as sinners. How would you feel when you have to carry a heavy burden? When I was working in the fields, I had to carry heavy loads. After going a few yards I would become very tired; my feet, legs and even bones would get tired and weary. That is how we will feel When we carry our load of sin. It is a heavy burden. So our Lord says to all of us, 'Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden.' What a loving invitation. The Lord Jesus was willing to pay the price for our sins. He paid it fully, even for our sinful thoughts and imaginations.

In China, when they invite you to a dinner, they will prepare at least twenty to thirty dishes. They will also give you all kinds of sauces and drinks to increase your appetite. They will provide you a towel to wipe your face whenever necessary. As you eat dish after dish, your stomach will say after some time, 'No more, no more. I cannot take any more !' In other words the stomach says, 'My dear master, now I am fully satisfied. I don't want another particle.' This is symbolic of full satisfaction and rest. God's Word says that the whole world was created by God, and then, on the seventh day, God rested. God saw that everything which He had made was very good. Imagine that day when God looked at His own creation. It was a wonderful creation free from the curse of sin. There was no mourning, no thistle, no poison. All things were so wonderful. Every part of the world was so beautiful When He looked at the creation He had made, He said, 'It is very good.' It was beautiful and glorious. His heart was full of joy that day, and that is called rest.

Because of disappointment, God lost that rest. It was indeed a terrible loss! It is now being recovered by the Lord Jesus Christ. Sometimes ships carrying valuable material sink in the sea due to storms. At such times many men are employed to pull them up from the sea. Our Lord came into the world to recover every loss. He will not be satisfied till we receive everything from God; everything in full, as purposed in the heart of God. This we can do by learning meekness. Only thus can we inherit all the wealth in the Lord Jesus Christ. That is why He says, 'Come unto me... and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.' This is a life-long lesson to learn. Thus we must get rid of the pride we had before pur conversion — pride of family, country, friends, relations or qualifications.

(b) Humility: I shall give you an example as to how we take pride in ourselves. I had a relation in Lahore occupying a good job. I would say to my friends who came to see me, 'Do you know that man Shanker?' They would reply, 'Yes'. Then I would say, 'He is my uncle', even though that uncle had never spoken to me! I would never call a poor man my uncle. The devil uses many devices to deceive us. Have you ever seen yourself in a mirror? It appears to say, 'My dear man, what good teeth you have! So beautiful!' Then you look into it again. Now it says, 'Have you seen your eyes? They are just like almonds! Look again. 'That is our nature'. We take pride in ourselves. Yet all these things will soon pass away. Talents and gifts will soon pass away. We are nothing before God. In the Bible we read that the holy God calls our righteousness 'filthy rags.' Just imagine filthy rags which even lepers would not take to tie their wounds, because they are so filthy. Such is our condition before God! After our conversion we are made into a peculiar treasure. But it requires meekness in us to understand our heavenly calling. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15: 10, 'the grace of God which was with me.' He was a man of God whom the Lord used so mightily. Judging by his family, knowledge and education, he was a highly qualified man of the world. It was afterwards that hebecame an Apostle. Yet he says, By the grace of God I am what 1 am.'

When we are born again, God gives each one of us some gift or other. But we should not feel proud of it. Let me give you an illustration. We do not thank the postman for bringing us money orders. If we did, hewould say to us, 'Please do not thank me, thank the sender.' We also are only God's postmen. Whatever we receive from God we transmit to the people around us, and do so because of His grace. There is no reason why we should be proud of the talents given to us by God to be spent for others.

When 1 began to doGod's work in India, I prayed to the Lord to give me a co-worker so that I might cover large and needy areas in open-air and personal work. I wished that this co-worker would be a university graduate. With such a friend, I thought I could pray freely and work effectively. One day a bearded man came to me and said, 'Brother, God is calling me to be your co-worker.' This man was a sweeper in the locality where I lived. He was an extremely foolish man. 1 wondered how God could call such a man for His service. One day he came to me and said, 'Brother, please give me your electric bulb. I have some guests in my house, so kindly lend it to me.' I did so. He returned in a little while and said it was not burning. I replied that it was a good bulb I had given him. He asked me to go to his house and see for myself. So I went. There I saw the bulb hanging on a rope. There was no electric wiring or anything. Yet he kept saying to me. It is not burning. It is not burning.' He was so ignorant! Another day he came to me, saying, 'Please give me some work to do.' I said, You take these Gospels and sell them in the bazaar.' I told him fifteen times: the blue coloured one is Luke, the dark-green is Matthew, the red one is Mark, and the yellow is John. By the time he went outside the house he had entirely forgotten what I said. One day, in the bazaar, a certain man noticed his beard, and thought he must be a Mohammedan convert. To make sure he came to him, and asked, "What were you before you became a Christian?' He replied, 'I was a donkey.' 'What do you mean?' 'Those who do not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ are donkeys.' The man said, 'I am not a donkey.' 'No, not you Sir, only those who do not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are donkeys!' This man became my best co-worker. He would walk right into a Hindu temple and if anybody asked him, 'Don't you know it is our temple?' he would say, 'Sir, 1 did not know.' Thus he was very bold in selling Gospels to anybody, Mohammedans or Hindus or Christian pastors. My point is, even university graduates these days cannot open their mouths and speak boldly about the Lord Jesus Christ, they are so afraid; but God can use even fools to spread His Gospel. There is no need to be proud of anything, whether family status or education. God will use us only when we are humble and meek, thankful to God everyday for His grace. By humility alone can one be qualified for God's Kingdom and not by Bible knowledge or educational qualifications. Please see Matthew 5: 5, 'Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.' Any believer can obtain this inheritance. Thank God, our inheritance does not depend upon our health, our family, our education or any such thing.

My grace it sufficient After my conversion I went on praying for two years asking God to show me the secret of His power, so that my life could become triumphant and fruitful. After two years of prayer, one night the Lord met me and talked to me. 'Tell me, Bakht Singh, how were your sins forgiven?' I replied, 'Lord, I believed that 1 was the greatest sinner living. I believed that you shed your blood for my sins and you forgave my sins.' The Lord said to me, 'Tell me now, do you believe that you are the weakest person living and that you have no power?' At once all my doubts disappeared and I learned my weakness and help - lessness without my Lord. 1 could not speak one word. I had to pray hard every day and say, 'Lord I am a stutterer and a stammerer. I cannot speak clearly. How can I speak to so many people? Please touch my lips and my throat.' He is so faithful and He knows my weakness and He said, 'My grace is sufficient.' It is abundant grace, sufficient grace, for any person. It does not matter who we are, illiterate, very poor, with many handicaps, ordinary people with ugly faces, in His hands we can become wonderful instruments, if we remain humble and meek. I can say that I am weak and helpless at every step, but I believe in His grace. Such faith alone will qualify us for His Kingdom.

First —ask Him to come in But first of all, your sins must be forgiven. That is the beginning of the Christian life. All these truths cannot be understood by us without the experience of newbirth. I question you, Are you born again? you might get angry with me. When somebody questions you, How are you? What would you say? Would you get angry? You would smile and say, 'I am well. Thank you.' Now when we say, 'Are you born again?', it means, 'Are you well?' That is all! Why should you get angry? Has He given you peace? Are you well spiritually? Has He become your loving friend? Does He speak to you? Do you speak to Him? Are you conscious of His presence? If you cannot say, Yes, to all these questions then come to His feet right now, this very moment while you are reading this, He will forgive your sins, wash you, pour His love into you and make you a member.of His kingdom. But you must first ask Him to come into your heart.