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. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.
The nose is a great organ, not only because it keeps our eyes separate but because the olfactory system somehow spurs memories as vividly as our sight and hearing. It is strange how the smell of books takes us back to rainy days at the library, and more unpleasant odors summon negative memories. Paul wrote this letter to a church that seemed to be ignorant of Christ and what he did for them. Therefore, their aroma would not remind people of Jesus Christ but of the smell of rotting flesh.
That is what sin must smell like to God. The Old Testament is filled with the pleasing aroma of the burnt offerings to God. The feeble works of our flesh are the opposite. We need this odor taken away. Praise the Lord that Jesus Christ leads us in triumphal procession out of the garbage dump and into the fragrant garden of his kingdom! There is nothing to wash us clean except the cleansing blood of the Lamb of God. May we be the aroma of Christ so when people see and hear us, they smell the pleasing aroma of an offering made to God; the fragrance of life.
Dear Lord, thank you for releasing us from the stench of sin and giving us the pleasing aroma of life. May we be that aroma to someone today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church