2 Corinthians 2:14 “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.”
What do you project through your life?
I realize that may seem like a strange question, but if you consider the ways in which the Lord manifests His glory, you might be surprised at what you find.
Perfumes during Jesus’ time were highly coveted, oil-based liquids made from macerated plants, spices, and tree resins. Prized for personal fragrance, medicine, and burial, these precious liquids were imported via ancient trade routes. They were stored in sealed alabaster or glass vessels to preserve their potency.
Some of the fragrances include…
Spikenard (Nard): Extracted from a root in the Himalayas. It had a pungent, earthy, and musky aroma. Because it was imported from India, it was exceedingly rare and luxurious
Frankincense: An aromatic resin that releases a citrusy, smoky aroma when burned. Sourced from southern Arabia, it was symbolic of divinity and a staple of religious and royal offerings.
Myrrh: A bitter, fragrant resin from the Commiphora tree. Used historically for perfumes, anointing oils, and embalming, it symbolized purification and sacrifice.
In scripture we witness different times in which perfumes were used as either an expression of love or a gift of honor.
Mary of Bethany(John 12) famously anointed Jesus with a pound of “pure nard” right before His crucifixion. The perfume was incredibly valuable, worth 300 denarii (equivalent to a full year’s wages for a common laborer).
The Magi’s Gifts (Matthew 2): Frankincense and myrrh were among the precious gifts the Magi brought to the infant Jesus. They were gifts for a King.
In both of these instances perfume was used to honor Christ, both at His birth and just prior to His crucifixion. During the times of the Tabernacle and Temples, it was common to see incense burning in the holy of holies, creating an atmosphere of fragrance before the Lord. The formula for making the liquid was given by God in a very specific way, to be used only at the Tabernacle (Exodus 30:22-38)
Incense was also representative of prayers before the Lord, offerings of devotion and reliance upon God’s provision.
Psalm 141:2 “May my prayer be set before You like incense; my uplifted hands, like the evening offering.”
Believers can offer up prayer before the Lord knowing He hears them. The manner and method by which God responds is bound up in the depth of His wisdom.
We honor the Lord in prayer, we also show love to others by lifting them up as intercessors before the mercy seat of God.
Spiritual fragrance is such a lovely expression of God’s beauty. For those who walk in honor before the Lord, the fragrance of Christ emanates through their lives, and is very specific to Christ. It has hints of compassion and love, there is depth in the empathy they show and in the kindness they express. They are genuine, they glorify God in who they are, and people are drawn to them.
What does it take to express that kind of beauty? How can we grow into men and women who emanate the beauty of the Lord?
2 Corinthians 2:15-17 “For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.”
To be men and women of sincerity takes a total commitment to our faith. It can’t be a side note that is just a part of our expression. We have to be more than Sunday believers and then when Monday rolls around, acting like the world once again. Sincerity of faith takes a deep heart change that doesn’t care how the world sees you.
It is a life that is unashamedly faithful.
The effect
Did you notice the dichotomy of how people receive the fragrance of Christ? For some it is death to death, to others the fragrance of life to life. For those who walk in the deadness of sin, a life that expresses the fragrance of Christ reminds them of the judgement that is to come. The judgement of sin is eternal death in Hell, which is not an appealing prospect.
The hope is that the odor of death for the wicked will lead them to the Savior. The fragrance is expressed through the gospel, by the law, but does not leave them hopeless. The law in itself is hopeless, but then glorifies Christ and exalts Him. The hope is that unbelievers will find the love of God that’s been given.
To believers, the fragrance of Christ reminds them that the life they live now has the great expectation of eternal life to come. The fragrance of Christ brings delight to their soul and gives them hope.
God inhabits the praises of His people. In other words, the prayer and praises are an expression of God’s faithfulness in the lives of His people. They recognize His faithfulness and worship Him, no matter what path He leads them on.
Proverbs 15:8 “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.”
What fragrance do you express through your life?
I’m not talking about stinky feet or body odor, or the manufactured fragrance of cheap cologne…I’m talking about what emanates from you. When someone spends time with you, what are they receiving? Is it anger and strife, profanity or gossip, or does your life express love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control?
The fragrance of the Spirit can either be an expression of God’s anointing on you or you are portraying something completely apart from Him, possibly even blaspheming His name.
I must look in the mirror and carefully examine myself each day, there have been times I’ve had more success and other times I’ve completely failed in this regard. Tests come at unexpected times and reveals to us where we truly are.
When I examine the Word of God, I see that even sacrifices were meaningless before the Lord without obedience. The priests would offer burnt offerings before the Lord as expression of guilt, but God is more interested in how we respond to His leading.
1 Samuel 15:22 “And Samuel said, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.”
Listen and obey. If I truly want to hear God’s voice, I must actively spend time with Him in prayer. I must be willing to receive even the things I don’t want to hear. The chastening and reproof of the Lord is not easy to take. Will I soften my heart before Him?
The life of one who has been shaped by God is a life that fills the world with His fragrance…the world cannot help but be affected by that life.
U.T. 