I bought new dishwasher detergent last week.
I opened the dishwasher, poured it in and was hit with a powerfully sweet fragrance.
Jacob walked by and said, “I smell gummy bears! Where are they? Can I have some?”
After a bit of discussion I managed to convince him that it was only the detergent.
The next day I got up early to go grocery shopping, and on my way out the door, realized that I was thirsty. I grabbed a cup out of the dishwasher, shoved it under the faucet, and watched the water swirl slowly towards the rim.
And then I took a drink.
The water tasted exactly like my new dishwasher detergent. Floral notes mingled with the ice chips in my glass and melded into a hint of fake citrus.
Most people would probably go buy new dishwasher detergent when everything they ate or drank tasted like soap.
Not me. I was determined NOT to waste my $2.67 Aldi detergent.
So when the next load of dishes finally clicked to a stop, I ran the rinse cycle.
Twice.
Beaming with self-approval, I opened the dishwasher to a cloud of steam….and that same overpowering fragrance. It was official. This “Fresh Scent” dish-washing liquid was here to stay.
It clung to the bowl filled with chicken and dumplings that I ate. It flavored every glass that I drank from. The silverware decided to wear the aroma like a second skin and so every bite I took had the lingering fragrance of…detergent.
Did you know that you also wear a fragrance everywhere you go?
I’m not talking about Chanel #5, or leftover garlic from your spaghetti, or spit up on your shirt, or the fact that your deodorant stopped working about four hours ago.
No, I’m talking about your Jesus smell.
If you have trusted in Jesus, and given your heart, soul, and identity to him, you wear his fragrance in an unmistakable manner.
Just look at 2 Corinthians 2:14-17!
14 “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 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.”
Occasionally I meet random strangers who wear the fragrance of Christ so strongly that without saying a word to them, I’m pretty sure that they KNOW Jesus.
So I ask them.
I ask them if they know Jesus.
And although they are surprised, suddenly they smile, with the remembrance of a thousand encounters with the Savior shining from their skin, and they say, “Yes. Yes I KNOW Him.”
Does everyone love this fragrance of Christ that you wear?
Sadly, no.
2 Corinthians 2:16 says, “To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life.
Sometimes to those who are far from God, intent on their own way, the beautiful aroma of Christ smells like death to them. They fear it, pushing away, retching, when you try to offer them Christ’s mercy. But to others, the perfume of God’s grace and Christ’s incredible love seeps out of your pores and draws them….. like the smell of cookies entices my children out of their rooms.
It’s not our perfect behavior that draws people, it’s Christ IN us, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27)
So through us, God is diffusing the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. (2 Cor 2:14)
I also love how verse 17 says that we are not peddling God’s word, or trying to slickly talk someone into an underhanded deal. We wear this fragrance of Christ in sincerity, commissioned by God to spread the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
And oh, it’s good news my friend. It’s incredible news, that Jesus came to earth to save sinners, to save ME.
So if you walk by someone and breathe in the aroma of Christ, ask them if they know Jesus.
Wear your own fragrance of God like a costly perfume, as you take the gospel into every place.
Because we don’t get another chance on this earth. We don’t get a second spin on the merry-go-round. Don’t waste it on the sidelines, too scared to step onto the ride and live by the Holy Spirit’s power.
Take up your armor of God. (Ephesians 6)
Take up your fragrance of Christ.
And go spread the good news of our Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:13)
Take a moment:
- Have you ever noticed someone that seems to have “child of God” stamped on their face?
- What kind of attitude do they have? What points you towards the fact that they have Jesus?
- The next time you go to Walmart, do a little people watching and see if you notice any other brothers and sisters in Christ. (yes I know we’ve all got masks, but this goes beyond the mask!)
- Evaluate your own identity and take a few moments to assess your own fragrance. Does your fragrance lead people to Jesus, or away from Him?
- If you don’t think that you’ve ever received Jesus, or if you want to know more about Him, leave me a comment and we can have a conversation! I love to talk about Jesus! He’s my favorite!
