Man's Best Friend

The other day, our dog came into the kitchen from the backyard.  Now, I say "our dog" instead of "my dog" because I feel no personal connection to him.  While everyone else affectionately calls him "Buddy," it's not all that uncommon to hear me simply refer to him as "the dog."  Buddy is more often than not an outdoor dog, but he does come into the kitchen on a few occasions, such as stormy weather, extreme heat, or, as was the case the other day, freezing temperatures.  Being an outdoor dog, Buddy's presence brought with it a distinct and unique feature that I noticed almost as soon as he entered the kitchen.  That's right.  The smell.  His own personal aroma.  That wet-dog-who-rolls-in-dirt smell that seems to be a part of him - it never completely goes away.  While my brother informed me that he didn't smell anything, I found myself wanting to go to a different part of the house.

The word "aroma" is found forty-five times in the Bible (generally in regard to sacrifices).  Forty of those times are in Genesis through Numbers.  The last time the word "aroma" is used in the Old Testament is in Ezekiel 20:41a, where God speaks of bringing His people back after their exile.  '"As a pleasing aroma I will accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered.'"  The next time we see the word "aroma" is also the last time it is used in the Bible, and the only time in the New Testament.  Paul writes, "But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.  For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life..." (2 Corinthians 2:14-16, emphasis added).  In Paul's day, triumphal processions were sometimes led by victorious kings, parading their booty and captives before the citizens of the land.  During these processions, sacrifices would be offered, giving an "aroma" of incense.  For some captives, this was an aroma of life, because their lives would be spared.  For other captives, the aroma was the smell of death - they knew they would be killed as enemies.  The entire procession was to make known the victory of the king, and the aroma of incense reminded everyone of that purpose.

Imagine being a citizen in Paul's day and watching one of the triumphal processions.  Imagine smelling the aroma of incense used for sacrifices.  Picture the victorious king.  This procession is exactly what we - as Christians - are showing the rest of the world.  Christ has bought us with a price and we are in His triumphant procession.  For Christians, the aroma is also an aroma of life, since our lives have been spared by Christ's sacrifice.  For others who have rejected the truth, they will receive punishment; for them, the aroma is an aroma of death.  Paul writes that we are the aroma of Christ to God.  Our lives testify to His greatness.  We are vessels of His victory!

Every time Buddy wanders into our kitchen I notice he's there.  His aroma precedes him (if you know what I mean...).  Every time you walk into a room, what do others first notice about you?  Do they see - or should I say, smell - a vessel of His victory?  People will notice when we truly display His greatness.  Do they notice it in you?

Let your light shine.


(see also the Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary for more on 1 Corinthians 2)