Do I Smell?

14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? 17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.     -2 Corinthians 2:14-17

I can’t believe it is September.  Fall is approaching and soon the leaves will be changing.  I know some of you may not understand my excitement, but you see, Fall is my favorite season and for the last two years I have lived in Florida where the leaves don’t change and you don’t get to experience the wonderful fresh smell of Fall.

When I would tell my friends in Florida that Fall has a smell, they would look at me as if I had something strange growing from my head.  Fall does have a smell.  It’s dried leaves, and smoke from bonfires.  It’s pumpkin spice candles, and apple cinnamon.  The smell of gives me comfort.  Now, I know for others, the smell of Fall is just a reminder that winter is coming and along with it, ice and cold.  

Our scripture today is similar.  2 Corinthians 2 says that we are the aroma of Christ.  To some we will be the scent of death, to others the aroma of life.  What this is saying is that we should be so different from the world that it will be a comfort to some and a conviction to others.  

Just like Fall can’t control how it smells, it is not our job to smell good to the world.  It is our job to smell like Christ.