“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.” (2 Corinthians 2:14, NKJV)
Entire sections of the big box stores are dedicated to fragrance! These sections are at the very entrance and they are intended to capture our attention. And the fact is … they often do!
Our Heavenly Father who made us has blessed us with amazing abilities and senses. We understand there are five major senses that include a sense of touch, sight, hearing, smell, and taste. Of these five senses, the sense of smell is considered to be the front runner.
At just about any time of the year there are smells, aromas that will trigger in our minds memories. There are nostalgic memories of growing up … memories of holiday fixin’s … memories of people and events that have taken place.
Personally, the fragrance of roses and peonies (my mother’s favorite) always take me back to a time when life was much easier … less stressful, The fragrance of a cherry pie in the oven or of the crust being baked and the anticipation of being able to eat the strips of crust that were always available! How sweet it was!
At this particular time of year, it would be the unforgettable fragrance that would waft through the house in the early morning hours announcing the arrival of the turkey that would soon be consumed by four hungry children!
You can identify with all of this, can’t you? Wonderful memories of wonderful fragrances that to this day take us back to when and where we grew up!
The inspired writer, the Apostle Paul, speaks of a fragrance that surpasses any and all fragrances that have ever or ever will exist! Do you smell the sweet fragrance? Not of blooming flowers … but the spiritual fragrance emanating from the greatest writings in the world … the Bible? The fragrance for all of mankind regardless of gender!
The “knowledge” of our text would include that of God Himself and of the glorious truths of the Gospel … a figurative bouquet … inspired by Him who fashioned the world in which we live!
My friends, there is no greater privilege than that of diffusing, emanating, sharing the “fragrance of the knowledge of God.” This is to be our purpose, aim, objective, and goal in life!
“For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” (2 Corinthians 2:15, NKJV)
Each and every one of us leaves something wherever it is we go … whatever it is we say! That ‘something’ is INFLUENCE! As the “people of God … the elect of God … the citizens of this heavenly kingdom” … we have been “called by God” to use our influence in a favorable way!
In your office … on the phone at home … in the grocery store … in school … we must ask ourselves every day if our influence is Christ-like? And we must be candid and honest about our answers! We cannot share what we do not have ourselves!
The heart of a person that has been kindled by the love, grace, and mercy of God will flow with the sweet-smelling aroma of our Lord! We need to live in such a way that by our every action is reflected the knowledge of God that can lend itself to the eyes and ears of those who see and hear around us to inquiry and hopefully salvation!!
Folks, from the heart that has truly been ‘set on fire with a passion to honor our Lord’ there will go up the sweet-smelling fragrance of a holy life being lived … not for self-glory and praise … but for the glory and honor of Him who made us and who will one day judge each of us!
In everything we do … everywhere we go … with whomever we are with … including other Christians … our language, attitude, and actions demonstrate Christ living in us! May each of us be encouraged to greater diligence in studying God’s Book, the Bible, in order to increasingly become the aroma of life in Jesus Christ!
Make no mistake … it is of the highest privilege and order to be a child of God! For each one of us, regardless of age, maturity, station in life … to be “the fragrance of Christ” that teaches others of the life-changing power of the Gospel … is vivid imagery intended to lift us up to a better way of life … both here and for eternity!
“Wrap the habits of your soul in the sweet lavender of your Lord’s character.” (F.B. Meyer)
Bill Fairchild, Jr.
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