| | | | It might be your odor - 2 Corinthians 2:15-16 Have you ever wondered why it is that some people you come across are drawn to you, and want to know more about your faith, yet others seem to avoid you once they find out you are a Christian? Well, it might be your odor. No, I don't mean to say you have body odor, I'm taking about the spiritual fragrance that radiates from your life, your "Spiritual Odor" (SO).
Paul makes an interesting statement in his second letter to the church at Corinth:
Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. 2 Corinthians 2:15-16
It was a custom in the Roman Empire, when a conquering general returned from a hard fought campaign over one of the enemies of Rome, subduing the threat to Rome, that the Senate would grant him a "Triumph." In the Roman Triumphs, the conquering general would ride through the streets of Rome in his chariot, preceded by numbers of priests swinging pots of fragrant incense. Behind him would come the captives he had taken, being led to their execution in chains. Behind them would come the generals, the captains and the commanders of his forces. The streets would be filled with people shouting and cheering.
In this great procession, the fragrance of the priest's incense filled the air: To the prisoners in chains following the conquering general's chariot, the fragrance of the incense was the fragrance of death. But to those who were part of the army, and to the citizens of Rome who had been spared the threat to the city, that fragrance was a fragrance of life. It was the same smell to everyone, the only difference was the destination of the person who smelled it.
And so it is with this Christian life; we're in a big parade! As you go through your day, interacting with the world around you, your spiritual aroma surrounds you. To those who are open to God, the people that are going to be open to hearing the good news of the gospel, you are the aroma of life! You bring the message of hope and victory for their lives! But to the person who rejects God, you are a reminder of the ultimate death they face; A death with no hope of heaven, and no future with Christ. Its the same smell, the only difference is the destination of the person who smells it.
Just remember, your message of hope cannot bring life and victory to anyone's life if they never hear it. So next time you sense someone is drawn to you, remember to tell them why you smell so good!
"Lord, help me to see those who are drawn to the aroma of life, and give me the burden to share with them my message of victory and life."
Pastor Clay | | | | | | | |
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