What is that smell?
For we are like a sweet-smelling incense offered by Christ to God, which spreads among those who are being saved and those who are being lost. For those who are being lost, it is a deadly stench that kills; but for those who are being saved, it is a fragrance that brings life. 2 Corinthians 2 : 15 - 16 (GNB) |
I don't know about you but out of these two smells (a deadly stench or a fragrance that brings life) I know which one I would prefer. If you had a choice of sitting next to two people on a train, one smelling like death and the other like sweet smelling incense, I am sure that you would also pick the sweet smelling one!
The way that something smells can be a good indicator of its condition on the inside, even if the outward appearance seems fine. Just think of milk in the fridge. I am sure that if it is nearing its use by date that you have given it a quick sniff to check that it is still fresh before adding it to your tea or pouring it over your cereals. We do this because we know that milk tends to smell bad before it looks or tastes bad (and hopefully you have poured it down the sink before it has gone green!)
This passage tells us that we are like this for God. Those of us who are in a fresh, healthy relationship with him smell sweet and pleasant. Whereas those who have let things drift a bit (or a lot) smell significantly less pleasant, or even deadly. This shows that this isn't simply a minor issue that we can simply mask or try and cover up with something else. As a killer stench, masked by a blast of air freshener wont be any less deadly!
This week stop and think about how you smell. If you are not sweet smelling then maybe it is time to do something about it. Focus on your relationship with Jesus and you will be smelling great in no time!
This week's song is You Carry Me by Moriah Peters. |
Header image by: Emilien ETIENNE via Flickr