Christian Living

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Aroma of Death or Life 674 words
By Robert Schaetzle
‘To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life.’ [2 Corinthians 2:16 NKJV]

The determining factor for the witness we are; should result in the fragrance of the presence of Christ in us. How do others see us in our daily faith walk?

This fragrance will display the aroma of blossoms from a new birth, when we aspire transformation, to put off the old self and begin what God defines as sanctification or regeneration. Being a living sacrifice or fragrant aroma is bringing God into view, to a lost and dying world.

The ‘Great Commission’ is not as some have phrased it, a great suggestion when obedience enters in. New birth brings opportunity to share our reason for living by faith, and hope in what I call; ‘growing and learning’ with enthusiasm and promise for others in God’s ‘Gift of love’ for us through Jesus.

Rather than living for the foolishness of our self centered desire the world pushes onto us; put on the pleasing fragrance of God’s amazing grace that never diminishes, but is ever present for all the seasons of our life still before us.

When Jesus is the Controller, we’ll find hope, forgiveness, and renewed strength as He leads us to the way of escape, knowing He will never leave us alone to figure life out, but walk through our circumstances’ with us, in obedience to His word. God’s promise of eternity is to be with Him now, apart from the hurtful world of sin and despair. That’s the blessing in knowing Jesus with intimacy seeking the aroma of His fragrance.

A Living Sacrifice

A ‘living sacrifice’ is learning surrender to the prompting from God’s Holy Spirit for enablement. We’re to walk with His power through experiences beyond our human reasoning and strength; that’s exercising faith. Challenged to do what we think we can’t do, is being on course to finish the race He set us on. We’re like sheep, imperfect creatures that go astray, we need the Good Shepherd to show us the way.

The Apostle Paul shared to the Corinthians this truth, ‘Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that His Spirit dwells within you?’ [1 Corinthians 2:12] The presence of His Spirit provides vision and wisdom as His living sacrifice or holy temple as it were. To reflect to others either a fragrance with purposeful hope and love for God or if we’re not sensitive to His abiding presence, the fragrance others will consider is what appeals to their own understanding from a worldview that smells rancid with decay and distrust.

Within our ‘spiritual act of worship’, consider what our Lord admonished us about a father if his son asks for bread. The contexts is about prayer, but consider the truth with regard to what the father will give his son when asking for bread; will he give him a stone? If he asks for a fish will he give him a serpent that could bite to destroy?

This illustration [ref: Mathew 7:10-11] also reinforces my thought to reflect from what our Heavenly Father provides; His Spirit will help us show others something more appetizing than the foolishness of self preservation from this world around us.

Paul shares, ‘For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.’[2 Cor 2:17]

We are what we are by God’s amazing grace as we strive to bring about His fragrance. How challenged are we by the power of His abiding presence, to be blossoms for the sweetness of His love?

My prayer is our love for Jesus increase as we seek more heavenly values above, where our Savior intercedes for us; we’ll begin each new day as a fresh bouquet sending out the pleasant aroma of new birth and hope with fragrance that never fades.

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