Do you know that you convey a message of eternal life or death
without saying a word? To one you are a sweet pleasing aroma, but to another
you have the aroma of death! Did you know that every Christ follower has this
same power?
Everyone seem to be on the Essential Oil bandwagon these days, but
even if you’re not I bet you can instantly think of an aroma or scent that is pleasing to your senses; like homemade bread, apple pie, lilacs. All of these will instantly
transport me back to my childhood, but what of spoiled milk or rancid meat? I’m sure
all of us have tentatively gone to check to see if the milk in the frig is
still good only to discover it has soured!
2 Corinthians 2:14-16 says, “In Christ the Messiah, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade.
Through us, He brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in
the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to
God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent
with life. But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench
from a rotting corpse. (MSG)
Have you ever thought of yourself as a diffuser? The moment
we accepted Christ as our Savior, we were filled with the Holy Spirit, and the
pleasant aroma we are diffusing is the knowledge of God and the truth of the
gospel. If we’re walking in faith like we’re supposed to be, then everywhere we
go we should be giving off the aroma of Christ. Isn’t that neat?
Some people will be drawn to the aroma we give
off, and will be eager to experience the life giving eternal Salvation that
Jesus offers, while others will find the aroma offensive and cast us off.
It’s important to remember that we can’t control how someone will respond to
the knowledge of God, all we can do is be a Spirit-filled conduit through which
it can flow.
It's time we go out and "declare His glory among the nations, His
marvelous deeds among all peoples" (Psalm 96:3) everywhere we go!
