Most people would look at this bag of Epsom Salt (pictured in the background photo) and naturally accept it as being salt. Of course it is salt … the bag labels it as “salt.” It is white and granular and looks like salt. Of course it is salt.
But, in reality … it is not!
Epsom Salt is not salt at all. Epsom Salt is a chemical composition of “Magnesium Sulfate”; whereas true Salt is a chemical composition of “Sodium Chloride.” They are two completely different entities.
This same thing can happen when it comes to spiritual matters. There are many people who claim to be Christians. They have the title: “Christian” … they have the look of “Christian” … by all outward appearances it seems obvious they are Christians. In Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount, He addresses this very issue (Matthew 7:15-23):
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven.” -Matthew 7:21
So how do we know the difference??
Epsom Salt is known to be quite effective at speeding up and encouraging decay … and is thus advantageous for getting rid of old, rotting tree stumps (like the one pictured in the background photo).
True salt, on the other hand, is primarily known to be very effective at PREVENTING decay. Thus, true salt has been widely used for centuries to preserve food products and meats.
So, how do we know the difference between true salt (spiritually) and “fake salt” (spiritually)?
True salt (spiritually) aids in preserving; “fake salt” (spiritually) encourages decay.
* In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus states: “By their fruit you will recognize them. … every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. … Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” -Matthew 7:16-20
* The Apostle John states: “If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.” -1 John 4:20
And so, we arrive at our Daily Verse for today: “Do not slander one another.” -James 4:11
