The Smell of Christ

2 Corinthians 2:14-16 (ESV)
"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."

Last Sunday morning we studied John 12:1-11. In this section Mary pour perfume upon the feet of Jesus and wipes it with her hair. The humbleness of Mary speaks to her willingness to face the danger of such an act (letting her hair down in public was a sign of loose morals) and the expense of her actions (the perfume cost one year's worth of wages). But what I tried to focus on most was the fragrance of her actions and what that means for us.

Then this morning I came across this passage in 1 Corinthians. Paul here is talking about how we are perceived by those around us. Those who follow Christ cannot have any option but to smell like Christ. The fragrance of Christ permeates everything about us. Our actions, language, priorities, relationships, they all will have the smell of Christ. Others who follow Christ or whom the Holy Spirit is working on can smell the beautiful fragrance of Christ on us. But to those who don't know Christ we are an annoyance, old fashioned, and stink to high heaven.

I ended my message with this statement, "Do we have the smell of Christ on us?" We all have vises and we all sin, but as a man who follows Christ I have no option but to live for Him and smell like Him. What other option do I have?

The fragrance of the knowledge of God is all around us and is us. That sounds a little too Star Warsish, but I still believe it is true. What do you think?