Fragrance of Christ

Photo: ..just some memories.. © Łukasz Jernaś

Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-by to them and went on to Macedonia. 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.  -2 Corinthians 2:12-17

2 Corinthians 2:12-17 tell us that we are the aroma and fragrance of Christ, life to those who are being saved, and death to those who are perishing. We are to spread the fragrance everywhere we go. The text asks the question, who is equal to this task?

What qualities are we to posses if we are to be equal to the task? First, we are to be faithful to God.

Think how those who live half-heartedly in their faith, what aroma do they give out to those around them. Is it pleasing to the Lord? Does it smell sweet to the saved, and is it the smell of death to those who are perishing?

This brings us to ponder our own aroma? Is it pleasing to God? If it isn’t then what needs to change? A life of a Christian that is equal to the task is to be faithful, even when it is difficult. During trials, temptations and prosperity, in those times we see what truly lies within our own heart.

Another quality of the Christian is how they love others. A Christian can be faithful, but without love, they are unable to be the fragrance of Christ to others. Love is one thing that resembles who we belong too. To be loveless, is to be the opposite of Christ. These two qualities are essential if we are to be the fragrance of Christ to those around us.

When I think about myself, I see the need for growth in both of these areas. Am I an aroma pleasing to God? When I think about this, I don’t see that I am much of a fragrance to those around me; either, good or bad to the believer, or the smell of death to the perishing. I think it is easy to live neutral in this world, to be like the church in Revelation 3:14-22, which was lukewarm. We can be uninvolved with others who need us to be affective to in their lives, and go through life without being a fragrance, but only existing. Living life as we see it, doing what we want, instead of being who God wants us to be. At other times I can see when I have been the fragrance of Christ to others, doing what God wanted me to do.

The struggle with love and faithfulness is the struggle of consistency. As Christians we need to live it out each and every day. If not, then we only living out the life of a half-hearted, ineffective Christian.