What Is Your Fragrance?

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.  To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 2 Corinthians 2:14-16, NKJV)

            We, His people are to leave behind the fragrance of Christ. Everywhere we go we should be the bearer of the Good News. As a woman who enters a room smelling of a sweet, pure, expensive perfume attracts those around her, so should we. We should leave behind the love and Gospel of Jesus Christ wherever our feet travel. What scent do you leave behind on your job every day? What is the aroma that fills the room when you enter into it? Do you leave behind the fragrance of our Lord when you leave a place? We are to spread the fragrance of Christ, which is the Gospel everywhere. To those seeking God, it is the sweetest of aromas. It gives life, salvation, and freedom. To those that reject Christ, the Gospel is a stench to their noses. It puts a damper on their way of life. Regardless, we must leave or wear the fragrance of Jesus Christ. And how do we do this? People in the world don’t want Bible scriptures tossed at them. Our conduct, our lifestyle may be the scent that they need to ask, “What must I do to be saved?” It is said that we might be the only Bible that some people see. When we are around unbelievers, do we dare to fit in or do we stand out as a sweet smelling fragrance or seductive cologne. In the life of the unbeliever how many believers do you think approaches him in one day or even a week? How do you influence unbelievers on a daily basis? The person at the bus stop that you see every day, the unfortunate person you pass by on the way to the store, the promiscuous teenager you know, have you shared with them the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Do they now know there is hope and a better way? What was the smell that you left behind today?

            Woe to him who leaves a stench that is not of God. How will we attract the ungodly if we ourselves are ungodly? How can we show the love of Christ if Christ is not in us? How can we show the world there is freedom in Christ if we ourselves are not free? Let our lives be not mere words but actions that promote salvation in Christ. The Spirit of Christ should follow us wherever we go. Any spirit that is not of God such as lust, rebellion, disobedience, lying, drunkenness, malice, or envy should not be left behind by the believer. What are we saying to the world if this is the case? The Amplified Bible in 2 Corinthians 13:5 says, “Examine, test, and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it. Test and prove yourselves [not Christ]. Do you not yourselves realize and know [thoroughly by an ever-increasing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you are [counterfeits] disapproved on trial and rejected?”

               Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways! (Haggai 1:5, NKJV) Let us honestly examine our ways. Do we leave behind a stench or the sweet fragrance of Christ? What is your fragrance?