I love the way Jesus used stories to illustrate His points and get His message across. I also love the imagery Paul used in 2 Corinthians when he spoke about our spiritual scent. He wrote:
2 Corinthians 2:14-17
14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.
God diffuses the fragrance of his knowledge in every place (v. 14)
We are to God the fragrance of Christ (v.15)
To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. (v.16)
I love this passage. I love knowing that my life, my relationship to God through Jesus Christ, has a spiritual odor. That is awesome! If we are true to the word of God, serving Him with sincerity of heart, with love and humility then we are guaranteed to smell. To some we will smell like DEATH. Our lives, though pointing to the Cross, will repel some because of their refusal to acknowledge God and His Son. Their rebellion and pride prohibit them from truly sensing the sweet smell of salvation that is made available to them through faith in Jesus. Their intellect, though a gift from God, operates often as a curse as they demand that faith in the Creator and His Son become logical, factually undisputed, proven with what man can see and understand with human reasoning. They refuse to yield, their intellect becoming a false god that they choose to serve.
Others smell death because of the bitterness in their hearts that they refuse to relinquish. Like a badge of honor, they wear their pain, their injustice, their grief and their offences. They live in fear and are so vigilant to not become a victim once more that they cannot or will not trust Jesus. Their healing and restoration seem too far out of reach. Though they may occasionally smell a hint of life giving aroma, they cling to their pain and their fear.
Then, there are those that our lives touch and our spiritual odor becomes a sweet smelling fragrance. Like moths to a flame, they are drawn to the light of Christ that is in us. Unlike moths, as they draw closer to His light they are transformed. When they reach out and begin to say yes to Jesus a trade begins. He gives them beauty for their ashes, healing for their pain, forgiveness for their sins, liberty and freedom for their bondage. He gives them courage and love...so much love. He clothes them in righteousness and becomes their Mediator with the Father. Though our salvation was bought with His blood and sacrifice, we are made sons and daughters to God the Father. We become joint heirs to the kingdom.
Romans 8:14-17 reads:
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
How beautiful that we become adopted into the Kingdom. How sad that some only smell death and reject all that the Father offers through Jesus.
So, the question is, "Do you smell?". Does your walk with Christ have any odor at all? If not, why not? Even in the natural realm we have a smell. It is not always pleasing and that is where we become thankful for deodorant. However, the bible does not speak of spiritual deodorant. It stands to reason that since we do not have spiritual deodorant, then we cannot always have a pleasant odor. If it seems we do, then are we somehow dishonoring God? Are we denying Christ in our lives if everyone is well-pleased with our scent?
Finally, if we are not leading some to death and others to life with our aroma, then what place has Jesus taken in our lives? If we confess Him with our lips, yet deny Him by our lives, then that may be the only way that we are without a scent. Choose Jesus. Choose to live and walk in the fullness of His power and grace. Do not deny Him. Let His light shine bright through you. Do not be concerned with how you smell. Be concerned if you don't. Do not be a people pleaser, for your good aroma may become a false scent that may lead more to hell and destruction than if you walked in obedience to the Lord without compromise.
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