You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. - Matthew 5:13-16 NKJV.  

In August 2008, Russia had invaded and was attacking the democratic nation of Georgia. I asked then, “Will the nations of the free world stand by and allow the destruction of Georgia? If so, which free nation will next fall to the Russians?” We now know the next nation Russia would attack would be the Ukraine. Edmond Burke said it well when he said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Albert Einstein said much the same, “The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.” 

In a television special on June 6, 1994, observing the D-Day invasion, General Norman Schwarskopf and Dan Rather were walking through the US cemetery on the Normandy coast and General Schwarskopf reflected on the sacrifices of the soldiers buried there. He said, “We should live to make this world worth dying for.” There seemed to be doubt in those words as to whether or not General Schwarskopf really thought this world was worth dying for at least at that time.  

There does appear to be a moral decay in this world that is ever increasing. The level of immorality reminds me of the statement made in the last verse of the book of Judges (Judges 21:25), “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” The book of Judges records the result of that kind of attitude.  

The only thing restraining God’s hand of Judgment upon this world is those Christians, who are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Just as salt acts as a preservative in meat and prevents decay and spoilage so do Christians. Christians sprinkled across this world act as a moral preservative preventing or slowing further decay and in some situations even bringing restoration. But sadly there seems to not be enough salt and the decay continues.  

Why were Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed? It was a wicked place, yes - but also because there were not even ten righteous people in the place. Not enough salt and what salt it had, Lot, seemed to have lost his savor, his effectiveness.  

Does it make any difference how you live your life? Yes, it does! You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.  

Does it make any difference, whether you come to church all the time or just when you happen to feel like it? Of course it makes a difference. Your neighbors know when they hear your car start up and drive by their houses on Sunday morning and when they see you come home with Bibles in hand, they know.  

Does it make any difference, whether or not you pray and read your Bible? Of course it does! You don’t want to lose your savor, your effectiveness, your influence for the Lord do you?  

Does it make any difference, whether or not you ever tell anyone about Jesus, give someone a tract, and invite them to church? Of course it does! How will there ever be any more salt! How will there ever be any more light! If we don’t win more people to the Lord?  

It makes a difference how each one of us lives our life. We should live our lives to make this world worth dying for. You and I are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.