Aroma of Life or Death

2 Corinthians 2:14-17  But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.

When I read the words ‘triumphal procession in Christ’, I wondered what it must mean. I’ve dwelt on it for 2 days and looked at the historical context. What in me would cause God to want to show me in his victory parade? The catch words were ‘in Christ’. It is through Christ’s sacrifice that we are washed in His blood and therefore found acceptable in God’s sight. Then my mind wandered to the next phrase, ‘the fragrance of the knowledge of him’ and my mind was reeling again. What’s with Paul using such adjectives that make us think?

When we have a really positive experience, we cannot stop telling others about it. In Christ, we don’t just have a positive experience but a life-changing one and how much more joyous can that be? This knowledge is what we spread and the fragrance of Christ is sweet to the seeking soul and bitter to the ones who chose otherwise. It’s the greatest gift of eternal life to some and a bunch of ‘old wife tales’ to others. It is the difference between life and death and to those who celebrate the victory, it is sweet but to the rest, it is offensive. Are you the aroma of Christ to the world?

In His Loving Service,
ServantBoy

Ezekiel 20:41 “As a soothing aroma I will accept you when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you are scattered; and I will prove Myself holy among you in the sight of the nations.”