Smelly Christian
Last week was a rough one. My sniffer had lost its sniffing ability. I could not enjoy the smell of the smoke producing a haze in this part of the country. I did ponder a moment, during my week with a broken sniffer, on the morning after campfire smell. Have you ever been to a bonfire? There can be some great times at a bonfire, especially if enjoyable company is present. The heat of the bonfire at the start is so hot that the smoke is not noticeable. As the night lingers on, the smoke does not rise quickly. That is also the time when you move closer to the fire because the chill in the night air has settled in. Then the fire goes out, and you pack up your chairs and the family and head home. The following morning, you awaken to a pungent smell. Your hair and clothes from the previous night carry the lingering scent of a day-old campfire. Gross! There is a reason Bath & Body Works has not made a candle scented with the "day-old campfire" smell. It is not a good smell. Did you know that our Christianity can also give off a not-so-appealing smell?
Let's read Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 2:14-16.
2 Corinthians 2:14–16 (NASB95)
14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. 15 For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; 16 to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?
Paul paints a word picture of a Roman military victory procession. These processions would take place on the main path through the town. There would be incense burning as the soldiers would pass through. The prisoners would also be led through the town behind the procession. To the victorious, the smell of the incense was wonderful. It was a smell of victory and triumph. To the conquered, the scent of the incense was of defeat and death.
In the same way, our Christian walk gives off a scent to those in close proximity to us. This "aroma" will give off the same scent but produce two reactions.
Reaction #1 – “An aroma from life to life” - Our Christian walk to fellow Christians is a welcome aroma. They feel encouraged to have someone walking with them in this life. Our lives give them hope. Our lives encourage them to keep walking.
Reaction #2 – “An aroma from death to death” - Our Christian walk to those who are lost is usually not welcome. Don't you find it interesting that lost folks will often give us negative comments about our walk with Christ? I firmly believe it is because they know the life they are living is leading to death. To them, the smell of Christ can be likened to that "day-old campfire" smell.
My encouragement for you is to be smelly. Diffuse the scent of Christ wherever you go. You will be an encouragement for those who are Christians. Your smell could also be a wake-up call to lost people.
— Matt Jones, Preaching Minister