Trying to find a particular CD, I realized that mine were a mess. This weekend I decided to organize them, find their cases and get rid of old ones. I went out to my car to gather the ones in the console and glove box. When I opened the glove box, a mass of white shreds popped out, evidence of a mouse, who was there dead. My car had been smelling badly for the past couple of weeks and couldn’t figure out the cause. Thankfully, I checked on the CD’s, otherwise who knows when I would have found the dead mouse! That was a foul smell; dirty clothes on my son’s floor is foul smelling; spoiled leftovers in the back of the refrigerator is nasty smelling. On the other hand I usually always have a candle burning when I am home. I like the sweet smelling aroma.
2 Corinthians 2:14,15 “But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
In Roman times, the Roman general after war would display his acquired treasures and captives during his triumphal procession a mist a cloud of incense to the gods. To the victors the smell was sweet; to the captives it was the smell of slavery and death.
When we talk about Christ’s work on the cross for our salvation, to some it is the life-giving fragrance of good news. To others, it is not good news, it smells foul, like death.
In the Old Testament sacrifices were required for the forgiveness of sin, blood must be shed. Noah built an altar to the Lord, taking some clean animals and birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. The Bible says that “the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans.”” Genesis 8:20. (Side note: The “Noah”movie is coming out this weekend in theaters). In his grace and mercy, God required the animal sacrifices to provide temporary covering of sins. Those sacrifices are no longer necessary, because of the death of Jesus on the cross, he was the final sacrifice for sin!
Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1,2) Christ offered himself up to God as the sacrifice for the sins of his people to atone them and reconcile man to God. God is pleased, therefore, the sacrifice is a pleasing aroma.
Since we are to be imitators of Christ, believers should be a sweet-smelling fragrance to God. The law as a system ended when Christ Jesus came. The righteous requirements of the law, however, are still valid as expressions of God’s will for human conduct today. Those that live by the Spirit will fulfill these requirements such as “Do not steal,” “Love your neighbor,””Do not murder,”etc. Our acts of love to others and obedience can be a sweet aroma to God.
Are you a sweet smelling aroma to God or a foul stench?
On the journey,
Trish
