Be Salt. Be Light. Be Different. Chapel Matthew 5:13-16

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:13-16

God’s Good Life in a Rotten World

The Sermon on the Mount begins with “Blessed are…” but here Jesus changes the tone: “You are…” He’s not describing what Christians should try to be. He’s declaring what they are. If you belong to Him, you are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.

And that’s good news — because our world is rotting. It is morally decaying. Sin corrodes everything: politics, entertainment, schools, even homes. When food begins to rot, you don’t just wish it fresh again — you use salt to preserve it. When darkness closes in, you don’t curse the night — you light a lamp.

Jesus says, “That’s your job in the world.” My prayer this morning is simple: that every student, teacher, and parent here would embrace their calling to preserve God-honoring morality and illuminate a dark world through their life in Christ.

The Good Life Preserves God-Honoring Morality (v. 13)

“You are the salt of the earth…”

Salt in the ancient world was precious. It wasn’t just for flavor — it preserved food from rotting and symbolized covenant loyalty. Leviticus 2:13 calls it “the salt of the covenant.” In other words, salt was a sign of permanence — of something enduring and faithful.

That’s the image Jesus uses for His disciples. We are to be covenant witnesses — people who remain faithful to Christ and testify to His gospel in a decaying world. Like salt slows the rot of meat, Christians are meant to slow the rot of sin in our community.

Imagine a cooler full of meat left out on a hot summer day. Without ice or salt, it quickly decays. But add salt, and suddenly the decay slows down. The meat is preserved. That’s what your life can do in a classroom, a sports team, a workplace. Your integrity, your honesty, your courage to stand for truth — they push back the decay.

That’s why it matters how you talk when others gossip. That’s why it matters if you cheat on a test, or laugh at crude jokes, or compromise your convictions to fit in. When you hold the line, you’re not just “being good” — you’re preserving the moral fabric around you. People notice. And they’re reminded there’s another way to live.

But Jesus warns us: salt can lose its saltiness. How? By becoming diluted — mixed with impurities. Water can wash the salt away from ancient salt deposits, leaving behind white powder that looks like salt but has no preserving power. It’s useless.

Jesus says, “Don’t lose your saltiness.” Don’t blend in so much that you stop making a difference. Which leads us to His second image — because salt doesn’t just preserve what’s dying; light pushes back what’s dark.

The Good Life Illuminates Darkness (vv. 14-16)

“You are the light of the world…”

Jesus is the true Light of the world (John 8:12). But here He says we are light because we reflect His light. Just as the moon reflects the sun, we shine because Christ shines in us.

But light is useless if hidden. A city on a hill can’t be hidden. A lamp under a basket does no good. If you’ve been given the light of the gospel, it’s absurd to keep it to yourself.

Imagine a power outage on a cold winter night. The whole neighborhood is in darkness — but you have a flashlight. Would you hide it? Would you keep it under a blanket? Of course not. You’d use it to help others find their way.

So it is with your life. Your kindness in a cruel world, your patience in a rushed world, your joy in a cynical world — these are beams of gospel light. And when people see them, Jesus says, they “give glory to your Father in heaven.”

That’s why Litchfield Christian School exists. Our mission isn’t just to teach math and grammar — it’s to form young men and women who reflect the light of Christ into a dark world. It’s why we care about character as much as academics. It’s why we build biblical counseling ministries. It’s why we disciple you not just to make grades but to make a difference — in your homes, your

But remember, light doesn’t point to itself. Its purpose is to lead people somewhere — to the source of the light. That’s what Jesus is after: lives so saturated with His grace that when people see them, they don’t say, “What great kids!” or “What a great school!” but “What a great God!”

Be What You Already Are

Jesus doesn’t say, “Try to be salt.” He says, “You are salt.” He doesn’t say, “Work on being light.” He says, “You are light.” The question isn’t whether you’re salt or light — the question is whether you’re fulfilling your purpose.

A small handful of salt can preserve a whole piece of meat. A single candle can light an entire room. Never think you’re too small to make a difference. If Christ lives in you, you carry the preserving power of His truth and the shining brilliance of His grace into every hallway, classroom, and friendship.

So, students — preserve what is good. Stand for truth even when it costs you. And shine brightly. Live so that your kindness, courage, and convictions point people to Jesus.

And when people see your life, may they say, “There is something different about them.” And may that difference lead them to the Savior who changes everything.

Final Prayer: “Lord, make us salt and light. Keep us from compromise. Help us to live lives that preserve what is good and shine brightly in a dark world. Let our words and works point others to You — until the day Your kingdom comes and Your glory fills the earth. Amen.”