The Aroma

“For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death to death, and to the other the aroma of life to life. And who is sufficient for these things?” (2 Corinthians 2:15-16)

For many years, I have been losing my sense of smell.  My wife sometimes holds the most beautiful flowers close to me, asking, “Isn’t it (Aren’t they) beautiful?”  My response is often that the flower is pretty, but I don’t smell anything – The scent has to be VERY strong before anything comes through.  Sometimes I can, but you would have to say I becoming a “swift to hear, slow to smell” person, which can, of course, be positive in certain contexts.

Aromas can be – difficult!  As a young man, I went on a three-day pass with some companions from a security installation at Misawa, northern Japan.  It would have been a three-day pass like any other, except that something happened after we disembarked from the “six-by,” a truck that we used as a bus service to-and-from our location on the base.

I fell through the sidewalk!  Oh, it wasn’t like the concrete sidewalks that are found in many parts of the world today; it was a wooden sidewalk that covered Misawa’s above-ground sewage system.  The grey muck that emanated from the bath houses, along with other substances, slowly drifted in trenches under the wooden sidewalks to “who knows where” (we didn’t want to know) beyond the city limits.  Shortly after jumping off the end of the “six-by,” the boards under my feet snapped and down I went, into the muck!

Suddenly my companions didn’t want to be near me, and couldn’t wait to get away.  They walked quickly in two directions as I waited alone for another “six-by” that would take me back to the base – I would have no companions until that “aroma” was gone!

In school, many years ago, a professor remarked that what we often think of as taste is actually the sense of smell – Yes we do taste things, but often the odor will enhance or detract from taste, which is why the “aroma” of fine wine matters to the connoisseur.  Both senses must fully operate in order for the experience to be complete.  There is a “fragrance” of God’s Spirit in His people (2 Corinthians 2:15) and there is something like a “taste” of God in us, when we trust in the Lord (Psalm 34:8).

We are made new in Christ, and His presence creates a response not unlike the human sense of smell.  Paul the Apostle said, “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death to death, and to the other the aroma of life to life.” (2 Corinthians 2:15-16).  Christ in us can be “felt” by others, who will perceive His “aroma” in us.

After the death and resurrection of Jesus, He commanded His disciples “not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father” (Acts 1:4), telling them specifically, “John (the Baptist) truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” Acts 1:5).  Something (Someone) was going to come into His followers that would change them – Forever!

In Acts Chapter Two, when the Holy Spirit “filled” the disciples of Jesus, He gave abilities that previously were unknown (or were available to only a few) in history.  “Gifts” were given to all, such as the ability to speak a language they did not previously know.  Other abilities included “prophesy,” enabling the person to become God’s spokesperson.  Some received the sudden ability to teach Scripture in the power of God; and others were able to “discern spirits,” or “evangelize” (speak words that bring others to Christ) and more.

“Evangelism” is interesting because it is an example of the often “two-part” nature of the gifts that the Holy Spirit brings to our lives: 1) The evangelist will speak words to others, including Scriptural references, that are nudged into his heart by the Holy Spirit of God.  That’s one part.  The other is that 2) the same Holy Spirit “speaks” to the hearts of the ones who LISTEN to the evangelist, revealing the truth of his words.  Inside, they KNOW, because the Spirit of God convinces and enables them to place their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.  The “lost” can “taste” the Lord and be saved.

That same two-part process is occurring around us all the time, all over the world, as the Holy Spirit of God reveals much to people.  Years after my departure from Misawa, Japan, I gave my heart and life utterly to Jesus Christ.  I still made (and make) mistakes because I am just human like everybody else, but God takes flawed people and fills them with His Spirit, often in discernible ways.

I spent decades in the workforce, in such fields as legal administration and mortgage banking.  Included were temporary jobs in many workplaces.  A surprise in those years were the times when a stranger would come up to me and state, “You’re a Christian, aren’t you!”  It was a surprise every time because honestly, I was merely trying to make a living and do an effective job.  God always has larger purposes than ours.

It was during those years that I found today’s verse: “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death to death, and to the other the aroma of life to life. And who is sufficient for these things?” (2 Corinthians 2:15-16).  The Holy Spirit of God will reveal us to others, for His purposes.  And His great purpose is to bring many to Christ.

This is often true when we are attempting to do “good” things and He also shows others when we have strayed from the track God would have us follow.  He will reveal the “aroma” in us, to: Those with the gift of “discernment” and other spiritual gifts, and He will even show us for what we really are to those who do not know the Lord.  Do you love the Lord?  You have an “aroma of death” to those who reject Him, and “life” to people of faith.

The point is twofold: 1) We will be a “witness” for the Lord, revealing His beautiful “aroma” even when it is not our direct intention, and 2) We might as well be who we really are, because the truth of who we are WILL be known.

Father, we TRUST in Your Son.  Fill us with the Holy Spirit and bring many to Christ through the “aroma” of Your Spirit in us.  We praise Your Holy Name and thank You.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

Ron Beckham, Pastor
Friday Study Ministries
www.FridayStudy.org
www.FirstChurchontheNet.org
www.BlessedHands.org
E-mail: Ron@FridayStudy.org
Tel: (562) 688-5559
PO Box 92131
Long Beach, CA 90809-2131
"While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)