Good to be Salty

"Everyone will be salted with fire."
Mark 9:49

I find this to be one of the strangest phrases in the Bible. If you aren't careful, you may overlook it when reading. In context, the scripture above was spoken by Jesus as he taught about the importance of salt. He said that salt is good if it salty, but if it loses its flavor, it is of no value to anyone. He encourages us to be 'salty' people. We are to bring flavor to a bland world. It is important for us to be the spiritual seasoning in a fleshly world. The process of becoming this flavor for the world, however, may be a difficult one.
    I wouldn't equate salt to fire. It would never occur to me to do so. Salt is found in many places in nature. Of course the oceans and some lakes are comprised of salt water. There are vast underground reserves of natural salt. But the journey from its natural state to our table requires a refining process. This process is primarily accomplished by applying heat to dissolve the liquid, leaving the salt. In other words, it takes fire to make salt.
    All of us are going through a process. In the big picture, God is refining us just as salt is refined for our use. Of course there are shortcuts to get salt. If one is in the right mine shaft, it could be chiseled from the walls. The result may well be a chunk of salt, but it has little value in salting our food to taste. In the same way, the refining process in our lives cannot be circumvented. It requires heat. If we are to truly become this savor to the world, we must walk through fire. It isn't easy, it hurts, and the pain is often deep. But God knows that the other side of the refining process produces people who are seasoned with salt. The flavor that God produces in us will be used to change others. We are called by God to be full of spiritual flavor.
    If you are in a season of refining, understand that God is in complete control. What seems out of control to us is in the hand of God. He holds us through the fire. Remember the story of the three Hebrew children; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo. They went through a fire, but were held in the hand of God. The Son of Man came to walk in that fire with them. He is still doing that today. When you find yourself in a fire kindled by God, know that he is right there with you. He walks with you even when it seems desperately lonely. Take courage. The refining process is producing salt. Never forget: It is good to be salty!