There are only a few in any vicinity that make a difference. But even a few can be vital. When Jesus spoke about believers being the “salt of the earth,” (Matthew 5:13) do you know what He had in mind?

“Probably that Christians are . . . No, I guess I don’t know. Tell me.”

In Jesus’ day, since there were no refrigerators, meat spoiled without salt rubbed into it.”

“Oh I get it—salt preserves.”

Right! It doesn’t make rotten meat better, but it keeps edible meat from rotting.

Whenever a community—at work, in a neighborhood, at a social gathering—is sprinkled with salt, that community is kept from getting any worse than it is. In some cases, it keeps a community from rotting altogether.

“You mean like when people see a preacher in the crowd they refrain from cursing.”

Something like that. But more so.

When God was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for their wickedness, He said that if there were ten righteous persons He would not do so (Genesis 18:32). But because even that small number couldn’t be found in this thoroughly rotten place, He destroyed it.

Christian, are you a salty influence wherever you go? Or have you become like salt that’s gone flat?