There’s a sportsman’s brand that got started a few miles away from where I live. It is called SALT LIFE. And there’s a great lesson in passion to be learned there.
Welcome to “Mornings with Bishop Robert” — thanks for joining me … My goal is to introduce people to the Jesus they never knew, and help them get to know Him and His word personally – and better ! If our time together today speaks to your heart, then let me invite you to like, subscribe and share it with a friend! So Grab a cup and lift it up – AND LET’S GET SALTY.
In 2003, four friends got together with an idea for a logo on a decal that would represent a passion for the ocean, the salt air, and most importantly, a way of life. They invested $80,000, dumping most of that into promo and product. Today SALT LIFE has become a brand where folks spend over $100 million a year buying their apparel. They say, “Our demographic is a 40-year-old who wants to be 30 and a 30-year-old who wants to be 20.” Their logo decal is still a huge seller, and one of them encourages people to “LIVE SALTY.”
Today’s verse says YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH
With all due respect to them, as believers in Jesus Christ we have a very different kind of “salt life.” Our founder has told us that our logo is the cross, and that we are the SALT OF THE EARTH. Unlike the company, we are people who are called to represent a passion for PEOPLE, the wind of the HOLY SPIRIT, and most importantly, a CROSS-DEDICATED way of life. Our demographic, if you will, is not based upon someone’s internal desire to be younger. We want to touch people who find that something is missing from the day-to-day life they lead.
There may be plenty of “good” things, of course. One might have any amount of cash in the bank or some type of roof over your head. These things do bring some level of comfort and happiness. But they do not bring JOY. They do not bring INNER PEACE. And they certainly do not bring FULFILLMENT.
Stories abound of people possessing billions of dollars in their accounts, spending inordinate amounts of money on sex, drugs, another car or boat, or whatever thing is next inline promising fulfillment, peace and true joy. The problem is that none of these promises can be delivered upon outside of a real relationship with Jesus Christ.
The reason is a simple one. It is not through the abundance of one’s possessions that a person has life. The “thing” that is missing in the life of many people is RIGHTEOUSNESS. There is a hole within our very being that cannot be filled by anything else but real righteousness, because we were created in the image of God. Nothing we are or become, nothing we own or purchase, no amount of fame or fortune can fill that hole. Nothing.
God says that it is through FAITH that a righteous person has life. REAL LIFE.
Only a living faith can bring about righteousness, because it is a gift of God’s grace, nothing that we earn or purchase. It has been purchased by Jesus on the cross. It is only available as a gift from Him.
The Communion Cross is a good “logo” for this type of lifestyle, our own version of “Salt Life” if you will.
It has four arms which represent the four pillars of the Communion, and by extension, of our faith. Those pillars are Sacrament, Scripture, Spirit and Service. contained within each of the arms is a three-fold icthus. The icthus (or “fish”) was one of the first Christian symbols; and the three-fold icthus represents the Trinity. The Communion Cross contains two rings. The outer ring joins the four arms, making them inseparable, the inner ring surrounds the Jerusalem Cross, as a type of wedding ring. Finally, in the center we have the Jerusalem Cross, reminding us of our commission to bring the message of the gospel to the four corners of the world.
That’s what a real “salt life” looks like. A focus on Sacrament, Scripture, Spirit and Service based upon the gifts and calling of God; inseparably joined together with a focus on bringing Christ’s love and grace to the nations.
THAT, my friends, is a “salt life” that makes a difference.
THAT is being the salt of the earth.
THAT kind of a life will fill the hole within us.
LIVE SALTY.
