Although some cultures have a relaxed understanding of 'on time', most people in the workplace know that 'time is money'.  Whatever is not made today cannot be dispatched tomorrow, and failure to order goods on time means they cannot be used when they are needed.  Teachers must assemble their classes at a particular time; and meetings are arranged at a particular time, otherwise people will not know when to come.  Put it another way: we live in a world governed by time and space: for every ‘What’ we do, there is a ‘When’ to do it.

When Jesus told a parable, His primary audience was the trainee apostles.  But even they did not understand the teaching at the time, even when it was explained to them (Luke 18:31).  However, when Jesus had ascended to heaven and the Holy Spirit was given, then they understood the teaching which was to be passed on to the church (John 16:12-15; Ephesians 3:5), and in turn to us (John 17:20).    

Robert Louis Stevenson, the 19th Century Scottish author, wrote: ‘… to travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive’.  He expressed an idea which many people still assume is true, believing that life can only be a journey of exploration, because there is no certain end point.  However, Jesus spoke very differently.  He looked forwards confidently to the completion of the Kingdom of Heaven; He knew it well, because He came from it and would return there (John 8:14).

Salt is essential to human life; it is so important, that we were designed with specific salt-receptors on our tongues.  If we do not have enough salt, we will seek out salty food, because without it we will die.  Salt is also important to flavour our foods (Job 6:6); but more significantly, in large quantities it will kill bacteria and so it has been used as a food preservative for thousands of years.  Likewise, it is an excellent disinfectant for wounds, and sanitizer of human and animal waste.  Indeed, it is so useful that salted manure will safely put essential nutrients into soil to in