Salt describes our state of being, and light describes out state of doing. Jesus himself was our perfect example of these two words that describe our mission. He did not have the attributes most people would consider necessary to accomplish great things. We’ve all read about how He lived in poverty and was reared in obscurity. He never received a formal education, never possessed wealth and never traveled extensively. Yet in jut three and a half years of ministry the effects of his life on mandkind were greater than that of anyone else in history.

The names of great statesmen come and go. Philosophers, scientists and theologians are soon forgotten. But the name of this man Jesus shines forth more and more. Once each week the wheels of commerce cease their turning, as multitudes gathers to pay homage to Him. He was God on Earth in the form of a human being. He truly proved that it only takes a small amount of light to make a major difference in a dark world. And the same Spirit that lived in him lives in all Christians who have truly been born again.

It is every Christian’s duty to be his ambassador by fulfilling God’s mission to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. However, according to Bible prophecy, there will be tremendous spiritual warfare carried on by the enemy in the last days of the Church Age. God has given us scriptures about the future so we will have insight about how the enemy will carry out this spiritual warfare.

Mankind Loves Darkness

Since the fall, man has loved darkness rather than light. He likes it this way! It is his nature. The trouble with mankind is not one of intellect; the bible tells us it is our sinful nature, sin is integral to who we are (see Romans 5:12 and 7:14-25). In its fallen, sinful state the world can be rotten, foul and polluted place. Left alone, it would probably self-destruct. It needs a preservative and a light that shines brightly, showing forth the love of God. Jesus states that Christians and Christians alone, are that preservative and that source of illumination. No one else is capable of fulfilling these two functions regardless of how educated they may be, or how hard they try.

The only way this dark world will find the answers it seeks is from the life and teachings of Jesus Christ! Only Christians are “the light of the world.” The truth of this statement is why Jesus tells us that our light must shines before men, that they may see our good deeds. “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

In bringing up the biblical truth that knowledge and education are not the answer to mankind’s problems, I am not suggesting that I don’t support education. Quite the contrary! I have a college degree, and our own three children and the six we took into our home to raise all went to college. Eight of the nine received their college degrees, and three earned master’s. My wife and I founded what is no one of the major Christian schools in Phoenix. I served as president of this school for 17 years and was on the board of Phoenix Christian High School for 10 years. There is no question that education is important. But scripture makes clear that it is the Spirit of God and the Word of God that enlightens mankind with the wisdom we need to understand and apply what knowledge we have.

Fulfillment of our Mission

To be the salt of the earth and the light of the world is an exciting challenge, but it does not happen just because the words are spoken. There must be a continued audit of the fruit of any mission statement; otherwise, how can you know it it is being fulfilled?

In these last days, we are living in one of the toughest times ever to be salt and light–especially in America! There has never been a society with as much power to teach its standards as the American society now has. That is one of the reasons why God warns us often about the ways of the world. The world is the enemy’s main attack vehicle to pollute the purity of Christians, thereby weakening our ability to function as salt and light. “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes any enemy of God” (James 4:4) “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the father is not in him. For everything in the world-the craving of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-comes not from the Father but from the  world” (1 John 2:15-16).

God warns us that the systems developed by mankind are controlled by our spiritual enemy. He uses them as a means to wage war against Christians. We are told in Scripture that we are to live in the world, but not to be of the world. This is because spiritually we are no longer citizens of the kingdom of this world, but have become citizens of the Kingdom of God. The apostle Paul considered this world dead to him and himself dead to this world. He said, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14).

When we bow to Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we experience a spiritual rebirth by the power of the Holy Spirit. From that point on, we are no longer a part of the World’s spiritual family. Colossians 1:13 states, “For He has rescued us out of the darkness and gloom of Satan’s kingdom and brought us into the kingdom of his dear son.” (The Living Bible). Satan’s objective is to prevent us from carrying out God’s mission to function as salt and light. Satan uses his kingdom- the world, or society-as one of his key attack vehicles to contaminate our being salt and to dim our light. However, all Christians are equipped with a power greater than the influence of Satan’s world system so we might fulfill our mission. “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome then, because the one who is in you (The Holy Spirit–God Himself) is greater than the one who is in the world (Satan)” (1 John 4:4).

I challenge you to continue your daily walk with the Lord by digging deeper into his word, spending time in prayer and diligently seeking him as the ruler and Lord of your life.