This passage has been on my mind lately:
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and makes known through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place, since we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” [2Cor. 2:14-15; words of the apostle Paul in his letter to the church of God which [was] at Corinth with all the saints who [were] throughout Achaia]
I memorized it years ago since it seemed to confirm an interesting impression I developed about certain people whom I’d met for the first time. While I rarely ever asked, I often sensed if they were disciples of Jesus Christ.
There was just something about them that made me feel that way.
But then, I’m a disciple too. So, if God is spreading the “scent of the knowledge of Jesus Christ” around me as well, how does it smell to everybody else?
What should the world sense about Him through my presence?
I have to confess that, over the past 10 months, my aura hasn’t consistently spread a “pleasing aroma” of Christ effectively to those around me. Some could even question my diligence about choosing to be led by the Spirit. I believe they’d be justified in doing so.
But let no one challenge the inherent ambitions of my masculinity by calling them toxic.
Because the presence of the knowledge of Christ demonstrates much more than just patience with a smile. The one who senses that I might be Christ’s disciple must also be able to recognize a man of discernment who’s not afraid to stand up to the irrational demands of tyrants and Socialist bullies. He needs to witness my structural preference for protecting children, families and livelihoods from the devastating effects of their schemes, regardless of the cost.
If he thinks such confrontational tactics are Biblically unwarranted, perhaps he can recall how our Lord Jesus Himself physically cleansed the temple of corruption and usury, offering no apologies in the process. [see: Matt. 21:12-13, Mk. 11:15, Jn. 2:15-16]
So, even though the fragrance of Jesus Christ surrounding me can sometimes be tainted by the odor of human weakness, it seems to me that both “those who are being saved” and “those who are perishing” have something to verify by witnessing my behavior.
Hopefully, those being saved will be encouraged by the words or actions of a valiant man.
On the other hand, those who are perishing might well be afraid of perishing. Odds are, they’re looking for anything that might delay that process regardless of whether it makes sense or not.
But who knows what the sweet aroma of Jesus will do when it blows across their faces?