All things in creation that are temporal were created after the pattern of invisible things, which are the true and eternal. The proclamation of Jesus Christ—who is the Word of God and the beginning of the creation—that proceeded from the mouth of God in the words “Let there be light” testifies to this. For the absence of knowledge is darkness, and the revelation of knowledge is light.

It was God’s will to begin sharing his knowledge of invisible unknowns by creating physical counterparts that could be seen, heard, felt, and comprehended by the living beings he created, whether they are in heaven or on earth. For in this manner he chose to make knowledge manifest, not only that all things might become evident and clearly understood, but also that all things might be tried and proven for his eternal purpose. Thus, creation immediately commenced upon his announcement of the entrance of light.

And not only did God create all things materially as representations of the invisible, but after creating them, he set them in motion, creating pictures and narratives expressing the truth. These examples were written for us before the coming of the Messiah to prepare the way of the Lord. Therefore, Jesus spoke only in parables, using things in the material world when teaching spiritual things.

In much of Christianity at present, there is a great lack of knowledge and understanding due to the neglect of study in the Old Testament, where the Lord’s examples are recorded. While some only use select verses and stories to support their theology, there are others who go so far as to abandon the Old Testament altogether, declaring it null and void having been superseded by the New, thus throwing out the keys to the house. For the Lord created pictures within the stories in the books of the Old Testament as a foundation of narratives to be applied to the New Testament. It is upon these Old Testament narratives that the house of salvation in the New Testament stands. 

After finishing telling his disciples parables, Jesus asked them, “Have you understood all these things?” When they answered, Yes, Lord, he said to them, “Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, which brings forth out of his treasure things new and old.” The new and old go hand in hand as one book and are not to be separated or marginalized.

Nevertheless, faith that is handed down from generation to generation tends to gather heresies and false teachings along the way as it traverses time. There is only one God and his Son, Christ Jesus, yet there are a great number professing him who have become strongly divided by their different doctrines.

In the sons of the prophets in 2 Kings, we find a picture of those who were also inheritors of their beliefs. In the days of Elisha, he visited them, and wild gourds had been gathered and put into a stew. Once eating, they realized that there was death in the pot. They had been eating poison gourds mixed in with the good and were not aware of it. When they realized it and cried out to Elisha, he added meal to the pot, and the death was stayed. Likewise, in the place where the sons of the prophets were residing, the water was foul; therefore, there was death from the water, and the ground was barren. When Elisha was told, he cast salt into the springs, and the waters were healed.

The addition of the flour to the pot and the salt to the water are examples for us as well. Today, Christianity needs the work done by Elisha for the sons of the prophets. Jesus said we live not by bread alone but by every word of God.

Diverse doctrines embraced by various churches are pots, wherein death is found. Even among many of the faithful, the fullness of truth is lacking in their pot of teachings. To remove all harm from the pot, every word of God must be accepted and nothing refused—even as done by the meal Elisha cast into the pot, which neutralized the poison gourds. Death will remain in the pot in the form of falsehoods until the fullness of the truth of the gospel is received, which destroys the errors.

Likewise with the water that was healed; although the sons of the prophets resided in a pleasant place, the water was foul and the ground barren until Elisha cast salt into the springs, and then they were healed.

Salt is used in many different ways throughout scripture. Like fire, its uses are for both good and evil, blessings and curses. Metaphorically, salt is used to symbolizes a fullness of spirit, both to represent many virtues and judgments. Salt brings out flavor in all things; it preserves meats and is also used to destroy, as when fields were salted to make them barren. Also, remember Lot’s wife, upon whom judgment came in the form of salt. Salt in the spirit provides a passionate balance, bringing forth both goodness and judgment.

Metaphorically, water is often used symbolically to represent the spirit and also as a figure symbolizing an innumerable multitude of people. At present, in many churches, the waters are lukewarm, and complacency has set in. Salt is needed to restore them and bring them back to life.

The Reformation changed religion and broke the chokehold of Rome. However, it was not a complete break from Rome, as it appeared, but an attempt to reform the church. Reforming can be for better or worse, depending on what is formed in place of the original. However, with the advent of Protestantism, there were errors carried over that still remain. Christianity does not need reforming, it needs restoration. The word of God did not originate in Rome. Any attempt to reform Rome, or that which was born of Rome, will always bring along errors with it.

Christians need restoration back to the original source of faith, even Abraham, the father of faith, and his children, who continued on in his steps to eventually establish the city of Jerusalem, where God chose to place his name. Those who protested Rome would have done better to embrace Jerusalem and the Jewish people, going back to Abraham as the father of faith. Some did, and many do so today. However, many Christians still resort to reformations rather than a complete restoration.

Thus, they have created multitudes of denominations and divisions. Restoration of the word of God is the road to revival. We must be open to seeking out and letting go of long-held errors in doctrine. Unscriptural traditions that have been handed down and accepted for generations must be rooted out. We must pray earnestly for complete restoration so that revival may come to the body of Christ and salvation to the world.