In the Messiah, in Christ, 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.
This is a terrific responsibility. Is anyone competent to take it on? No—but at least we don’t take God’s Word, water it down, and then take it to the streets to sell it cheap. We stand in Christ’s presence when we speak; God looks us in the face. We get what we say straight from God and say it as honestly as we can.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Greg and I used to live about twenty miles from a community that was home to a paper mill. When the wind was just right, the emissions from that plant settled over our town with an acridity that was unmistakable. We now live in a community that is home to a decorative room fragrance manufacturer, and the aroma that fills our town much of the time is equally unmistakable…but contrastingly sweet and pleasing.
Given the choice, I daresay any of us would choose “The Smell of Christmas®”, “Amaretto Nog”, or “The Smell of Gardenia®” over the sulphurous “rotten-egg” aroma of wood pulp being turned into paper products. To think of our Christian witness as a sweet scent causes us to picture people being drawn to us…wanting some of what we offer. But when we picture a stench like processed wood pulp following us, it’s easy to see how people would be repulsed and turn away or treat us badly.
The thing is…people react to smells differently. What pleases one person might very well be distasteful to another. So while we present the sweet “gardenia” fragrance of Jesus Christ, those who are disinterested or unwilling to hear what we have to say might sense the stench of decomposing wood pulp. There is nothing we can do about this…and we are not called to change God’s message or how we present it in order to please those who rebel against God and the teachings of Jesus.
Let me unpack this for you…through the blood of Jesus Christ, we have been forgiven and granted unswerving access to God Almighty. He speaks to us directly and covers us in the sweet fragrance of Salvation through Christ Jesus. We’re not to apologize for our faith or pretend to be something else to those who disagree with our message. For them, our “smell” may be a little “off”…but that is for God to sort out. Our job is to stay faithful…to listen to God and follow His lead – always and in all ways.
Scripture tells us that this is not always easy. And I will admit that there are times when it does seem hard – especially when we experience ridicule and mistreatment from others. But for the most part, wearing the “exquisite fragrance” of a life in Christ Jesus makes everything easier…better…less complicated. We know what we are to do…how we are to live…Who we are to serve and represent – we just have to do so!
I am grateful for the sweet aroma of Jesus. I am so humbled and honored to be able to speak to God directly – anytime, anywhere. I proudly wear His perfume and pray that my representation of Jesus will be a pleasing scent to others. Essentially, our discipleship will either be like a sweet-smelling decorative room fragrance that has others saying, “Tell me about that wonderful smell” – or the “rotten-egg” odor of processed wood pulp that has them running for the hills. Which one represents your relationship with Jesus? Which “perfume” are you wearing these days?
©2014 Debbie Robus
