“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?”  – II Corinthians 2:15-16

            I remember several years ago, I had what you might call a bittersweet experience.  One evening, as I got home from work, I walked through the kitchen door and  caught the smell of some delightful confection that made my mouth start to water.  I stopped in my tracks and breathed deeply, taking in the aroma of whatever sweet treat might be baking in the oven.  I imagined what kind of wonderful delight might be waiting for me to enjoy after dinner.  My wife was standing nearby, so I inquired (as if only slightly interested), “Something sure smells good.  What are you baking?”.  “Nothing,” was her reply.  “Then what am I smelling?” I asked.  “Oh, that’s my new candle.  Isn’t it great?!  It smells like buttercream.”  What?!  Immediately my dreams of delicious delicacies were smashed, and the sugary vanilla scent of the candle only reminded me of disappointment. 

            Smells tell us a lot about the people, places, and things in our environment.  I’ve heard that Americans bathe more often than any other culture in our world.  We use deodorants, perfumes, cologne, and mouthwash to make ourselves smell appealing to others.  The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians that we are “the aroma of Christ” to those around us.  But just as fragrance is a subjective thing (what smells good to you may not smell good to me), so is the aroma of Christ.  Some will see our witness and hear our testimonies and be drawn to Jesus.  Some will see our witness and hear our testimonies and be repulsed.  Only God can work on the inside of the lost person.  We are not responsible for their decision to accept or reject Him; but we are responsible for giving them the opportunity to smell the aroma of Christ. 

It’s interesting how we often smell like the places we’ve been.  I used to go to a certain convenience store where I would always walk out smelling like fried chicken.  After being in the company of a smoker, we will often smell like cigarette smoke.  I hope that to the world we always “smell” like Jesus after having spent time with Him.  Some will be drawn to Him and others will reject Him, but may we who love Him always be found sharing His aroma with those around us.