12/09/2022
God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit are far more than spiritual thoughts that have no substance; they manifest themselves in the world every day through miracles, and by allowing us to experience them through visions, sound, touch, taste, and, yes, smell. Yesterday we discussed the sweet scent of anointing oil, the foul odor of death, and the fragrance of saints known as Osmogenesia, along with others. Today let’s continue this discussion of smell by delving into the aroma of Christ, and understanding how we ourselves are meant to carry it, and spread it throughout the world.
“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.”
2 Corinthians 2:14 ESV
We all want to walk through life smelling sweet like saints, this being an aroma somewhat like the combination of flowers, and honey, but the variety of smells that waft through Heaven are for more abundant and diverse than those we know here in earth. It is one thing to smell like a flowery saint, but quite something else to exude the aroma of Christ to the world, and to our Heavenly Father, but that is exactly how we should smell. Much like God says He is the alpha and omega, and Jesus says He is the way, the truth, and the life, they also come smelling of these things… the flowers, the incense, the blood, and the burning sacrifices they pass along the way as we walk with them, and the distinct smell of life, and death too.
“For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?”
2 Corinthians 2:15-16 ESV
We go out into the world teaching and preaching the gospel of Jesus but we are far more than traveling salesman as we trek from place to place. We are delivering far more than words, and ideas, nor are we simply speaking about Jesus, no, we are speaking in Him, and in the sight of God. This is a weighty commission, and we can sense it in others by their aroma. Like all fruit we will judge it by its color, taste, and feel, but before any of these we test it by its smell.
“For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.”
2 Corinthians 2:17 ESV
We might look, taste, and feel good to the world, but how do we smell? Many look like believers, they might even feed us words that taste good, or feel good, but all of these things can be deceptive. The true test is their aroma. Are they fragrant, or rancid? Do they smell like the world, and death, or like Christ, and life?
I watched my uncle work all day plowing his fields, but as the day was ending and the evening growing cool, he would get down off his tractor, remove his hat, and then kneeling he would take a handful of freshly plowed earth, feel it, and lift it to his face. He would then slowly, and deeply, breathe in its aroma. This always seemed to please him, and although he did this while he was alone, I knew this was more than a farmer’s habit or simple test, it was a spiritual moment… a time of thanksgiving, and prayer. Today I think back on that sight and wonder how Pleased God is with my smell when He takes me to His face and judges me. Am I moist, fragrant, and full of life, or am I dry, bitter to His nose, and smelling of lifelessness? Oh how I pray that I smell of the knowledge and life of Christ!
So how do we smell to the world around us, and even more, how do we smell to God? Are we indistinguishable from the scent of Jesus? If we abide in Him, and He abides in us, then certainly we will smell of the fragrance of nard.
“Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”
John 12:3 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for our walk with your Son Jesus Christ, and for His smell that permeates us. Thank you for the odor of sacrifice, and the fragrant smell of nard. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who leads us in Christ. Praised be your name for the many scents we encounter along the way, because they help us as we journey towards you. Mercifully you give us the fragrance of the knowledge of Jesus, and the scent of life contained in Him to lead us on. Your grace is abundant and its fragrance covers the stench of the world, overcoming every sin we confess, as we ask your forgiveness for them. Father, wash us with the blood of Jesus and cleanse us from our transgressions. Dry us with the towel of Christ, and dress us in the white cloak and golden belt of holiness. Judge us worthy, and seat us at your eternal table where our fragrance mingles with the sweet smell of Christ that washes across all he saints seated there. Take pleasure Lord, as our fragrance mixes with the smell of wine, sacrifice, and the fresh cooked bread of life. From here we will offer up our praise, and prayers to you from burning bowls of incense, and sing your glorious name forevermore.
Rich Forbes