Impacting Your World

Physics (and practical experience) tells us that when one object impacts another object that it usually makes an impression. I'm sure there are several here today who have experienced this truth through an automobile accident…some lasting indelible impression was made – either by you or someone else!

When you stop and think about the Christian life, isn't this the kind of impact we Christians are to have in the world around us, aren't we to leave an indelible impression upon it?

In the NT, Jesus makes it very plain and clear that we who profess to know Him as Savior & Lord are expected to "impact" our world for Him, expected to make an indelible impression upon it.

In Matthew 5 in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus begins His teaching by laying out the characteristics of Kingdom people. Then in verses 13-16 He gives a very powerful description of the kind of people who make up His Kingdom. In this section, we see the kind of influence and impact He says His people are suppose to have in the world around them. (Read Matthew 5:13-16 )

Matthew 5:13–16 NASB95

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

In this passage, Jesus uses 2 metaphors to illustrate the kind of influence, kind of witness we're to have upon our world. He uses the metaphors of "salt" and "light." In 5:13, Jesus says...

1. YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH.

- As we consider Jesus’ statement, I want to make 3 significant observations. 1st…

1. Jesus' statement reveals there is corruption in the world.

a. By using the metaphor of "salt," Jesus implies world is in a deteriorating, decaying state.

b. Bible clearly teaches the world is plagued with a major sin problem - sin & immorality are rampant.

c. Don’t have to look very far to see this today – my goodness, just turn on the news!

2. Jesus' statement reveals that His followers can make a difference in the world. How?

a. "By being salt" - by living up to the essence of your being – you are "salt" by virtue of relshp w Him?

- By exhibiting the characteristics of "salt," you can make a difference.

- What are some of the characteristics: 1) Purity 2) Flavor 3) Thirst 4) Preservative.

b. Certainly all are true but which one does Jesus have in mind the most here? Probably preservation.

- Why? Because in the ancient world salt was a very impt commodity.

c. What Jesus is saying: My followers are to be the preserving force in the world to slow sin's decay & deterioration.

- What does his mean? Means to stand up for morality – moral values and principles…

- Get involved in our communities, city, state and world…

- To vote every election cycle – know the candidates, vote your values / beliefs!

- 1 of great tragedies in our country: Several years ago 1 person was able to take prayer out of schools. Where were the Christians? Where were the churches?

3. Jesus' statement reveals that a Christian can lose saltness.

a. When impurities are added to salt it becomes diluted and its preserving quality lessens.

b. Jesus knows some followers sadly become diluted by the impurities of the world and lose their "saltless," - their effectiveness for Him.

c. Jesus' words come as a warning to all: DON'T LOSE YOUR SALTNESS!

TS - Jesus says, "You are the salt of the earth!" Then, in Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus says...

Matthew 5:14–16 NASB95

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

2. YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.

- As we consider Jesus’ statement, I want to make 3 significant observations here. 1st…

1. Jesus' statement reveals that there is spiritual darkness in the world.

a. Indeed Bible teaches that our world is blinded and living in spiritual darkness.

b. By using metaphor of "light" He implies the 0world is covered w spiritual darkness and is in great need of "light" breaking through the darkness and driving it away.

2. Jesus' statement reveals again that His followers can make a difference in the world. How?

a. By "being light" - by living up to the "essence" of your being.

- You need to realize disciples are light by virtue of their relshp w Him.

- And by exhibiting the characteristics of light, you can make a difference.

- What are some?: Light…1) Illuminates 2) Dispels 3) Reveals

- When applied to the Christian's life it means that the Christian is to "illuminate, shed the light, dispel darkness, reveal the truth of God and the Good News message"

- And note this: Jesus illustrates how this light is to be seen and not hidden in verses 14-15.

- And watch this: The way you let your light shine is to be CONNECTED TO CHRIST: In 1) Prayer 2) Bible Study 3) Living a Godly lifestyle.

- When you have a close walk with Christ, your light will shine!

TS: It also reveals that…

b. By letting others see our good works (vs. 16)

- Don’t miss this: Vs 16 commands us to "Let our light shine before men" – isn’t optional.

- The purpose = so the world can see good works – not to puff you up but for purpose of glorifying who? Glorifying God!

1) What Jesus says here is this: "Live your life in such a way that you are transparent - that others may see your faith, involvement for Christ, your commitment to Christ & His church, the way you respond in times of adversity and good.

2) People in the world need to see that Kingdom People are different - and that they do make a difference!

TS: The 3rd observation:

3. Jesus' statement reveals that Christians can hide their light.

a. Jesus' illustration and command make it clear: a Christian can try to hide his light in the world.

b. It’s ridiculous to think that a person would light a candle and place under a bowl - equally ridiculous to think that a person would want to become a Christian and then be ashamed to let others know it!

c. Yet, we have many today who profess to know Christ, but are ashamed to let others no it, see it in them.

d. When we do so - in essence, we are "busheling" our light! - we're trying to hide it so others want see it.

e. At some pt, we've got to take what Jesus says here seriously.

Conclusion

TS - As we come to the conclusion of this passage, there are 2 more observations that we need to consider:

1. JESUS’ STATEMENTS EMPHASIZE THE UNIQUE RESPONSIBILITY OF CHRISTIANS.

A. "You and you alone are the salt...and light..."

B. Only Kingdom people are the salt of the earth and light of the world.

C. No one else has the capability of being the preserving, delaying force in our world – and the light that dispels the darkness – only Christians, followers of Jesus are the only ones!!!

2. JESUS’ STATEMENTS EMPHASIZE THE POWER OF MANY.

A. He says, "You are..." - the "you" is plural and means "all of you..." - the whole body of followers combined.

B. As one little grain of salt, one person can make a difference, one person can change some things. But it's easy to see that the effect isn't as great. But when you put a whole bunch of grains together, look at the impact, difference they can make. Jesus was talking about the power of doing it together.

Illustr: Several yrs ago a magazine carried series of pictures that graphically depicted a tragic story.

1st picture: vast wheat field in western Kansas

2nd picture: a distressed mother sitting in farm house in center of a wheat field

Accompanying story told how 4 yr old son wandered from house into wheat field when she wasn’t

looking. Parents looked all day but little fellow to short to see over wheat.

3rd picture: dozens of friends and neighbors who heard of boy’s plight and joined hands early next

morning to make a long human chain as they walked thru the field searching.

4th picture: heartbroken father holding lifeless son who’d been found too late & died of exposure

Caption beneath read: ‘O God, if only we had joined hands sooner!’

C. This what Jesus is talking about: All of us who are His followers, joining our hands together, being the "salt," the effective, preserving force in this world for Christ / being the light our world needs to see.

D. What impact our world could feel if all of us who profess to be a Christian would "be the salt/light" Christ wants us to be!

Are you a Christian? Do you profess to know Christ? Then live up to being who you are…the “salt of the earth” and “the light of the world!”

Related Media

Related Sermons