What's That Smell?

We were standing in the candle aisle opening lid after lid testing the wide variety of fragrances. Some of them were really nice and some of them were awful. I was handed some candles and asked, “What does that smell like?” I responded, “Oh, that’s autumn breeze” and “This one is cumquat nutmeg sunset.” Okay, that’s not what I said (unless I saw the labels) – I just said whether I liked them or not (or just turned up my nose). Thinking about this well-known experience we’ve all had with various smells makes us ready for 2 Corinthians 2:16:

“To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?”

Spiritually, to some people we’re going to smell bad, but to others we’re going to smell good. We’ve experienced it. Some people don’t like our morality and things we stand for, while others are drawn to it and support it. What makes the difference?

We need to back up in 2 Corinthians 2 to learn what people are smelling (what they are sensing) when they are around true Christians. Look at 2 Corinthians 2:14:

“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.”

Some students of history suggest that this paints a picture of Roman victory parades where incense was burned in celebration, the fragrance diffusing (proclaiming) the victory to even the sense of smell. Christians live and speak the gospel of Christ, diffusing victory in Christ to all! This is why 2 Corinthians 2:15-16 says:

“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 leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life…”

In a military victory parade it is announcing a humiliating loss to some and a celebrating a win to others. The incense smells like death to the captured prisoners, but victory and life to the conquerors. Some people will only hear doom in the gospel. They will only feel judged and condemned by the lives and words of Christians. But those who want to be saved and are being saved will find in the gospel and those living it knowledge that leads to victory and life in Christ. So, how does it smell to you?   dd