Aromatherapy

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. (2 Corinthians 2:14-16b)

Do certain smells catch your attention? Have you ever waked up in your home to the aroma of fresh ground coffee brewing? What about the smells you encounter when visiting a friends home for dinner? If your home is like mine, my wife wants everything clean and candles burning as visitors come over. The first impression is always hard to overcome. Do you ever like going to Starbucks to smell the coffee, the mall to be invigorated by the German roasted nut stand, or Bath and Body Works to find something refreshing? The beauty captured in sweet aromas is something we often take but can’t be overlooked.

While visiting a local prison, I was caught off guard as was going through checkpoint. A group of women were signing in, and I had just left a room of men. As I turned the corner, I was immediately taken into a flower garden until I realized it was just lotion on one of the ladies’ hands. The smell caught my attention and left my mind wondering who it was that smelled so good. Whenever you get a sniff, you want to take a closer look. The power of smell also has an amazing ability to cross time. Have you ever been to a restaurant and it seemed like you were in your grandmother’s kitchen? Aromas infiltrate the mind and leave lasting impressions.

In the scriptures above, the imagery that Paul made was to a Roman general who had just come back from battle. As he was welcomed home, Rome gave him a public parade filled with pomp, glory and a great deal of incense to honor the hero. While he entered the town in triumph his soldiers and officers would also enjoy the praise; however, the slaves and captives knew their lives would end in death with each step closer to an arena filled with wild beasts. The smell captured the attention of everyone and could not be overlooked. For the victorious, the aromas brought joy and delight, but the captives could smell the sentence of death.
The Apostle Paul was saying that Christ had “also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:14b-15). In Christ, we are able to triumph because He has conquered sin, death and the devil. Although we are two thousand years away from His death, Christ offering in the fire of God’s vengeance and wrath against sin is still producing a sweet smelling savor unto God the Father. Our lives should bear this aroma of victory and draw attention to the Victor, who after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God (Hebrews 10:12b).

As Christians, we should be a source of aromatherapy to those around us. According to Wikipedia, “Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicines that uses volatile liquid plant materials, known as essential oils and other scented compounds from plants for the purpose of affecting a person's mood or health.” The way we live, act and talk should speak of the goodness and graciousness of our God to those who are taking each step closer to death. Christ’s life in us should alter and overcome the stench of sin and death. There is a big difference between an open grave or dead man walking and someone who is overflowing with the presence of the Holy Spirit. Let’s remember our Victor, Jesus Christ, and continue offering our prayers that ascend to heaven as sweet aromas unto God. The smell of your earthly tabernacle of clay will leave a great impression that will last for years. Be careful what your life is emitting!