How To Be The Pleasing Aroma Of Christ

BY PR NANCY LIM

I live on the top floor of a HDB flat, and so I will take the lift every day. There were times when I had to bear with an awful cigarette smoke smell in the lift that was left behind by some inconsiderate smokers. 

On other occasions, I had to hold my breath for as long as I could because of an overpowering perfume smell that lingered in the air. I do not understand why some people love to douse themselves with excessive perfume to the point that others can smell them from a mile away. 

These recurring incidents remind me of the metaphor that Christians are the pleasing aroma of Christ. We read in 2 Corinthians 2:15-17 (NIV)

For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved

and those who are perishing. 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? 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.

The message of the Gospel is God’s message of forgiveness and restoration in Christ. God gives this offer of forgiveness and gift of abundant life to all who believe in His Son, Jesus Christ. The Son of God suffered and died on the cross; his victory over death has redeemed us from the guilt of our sin. 

As Christians, we are tasked to spread this sweet fragrance of Christ to others by sharing the gospel with sincerity. There is a famous quote “People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care”. People can sense whether we sincerely love and care for them just like they can smell the perfume we wear, usually much better than we can.

Unfortunately, some Christians behave like overpowering perfume. They push their personal agenda too hard and attempt to cover it up with their religious acts and talks. Instead of drawing people to Christ, their words and behaviours drive people away. They put off non-Christians by their “hypocrisy”.

How then can we be the pleasing aroma of Christ? I suggest that we go daily to the Word of God and allow the Holy Spirit to teach us.  Why not reflect on the following texts?

1.     Always be prepared to witness for Christ, but do this with gentleness and respect. (1 Peter 3:15)

2.     Let your daily life win the respect of outsiders. (1 Thessalonians 4:12)

3.     Walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:2)

4.    Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. (1 Corinthians 13:4)

5.     Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23)

We learn from 1 Samuel 16:7 that the Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. Let us constantly ask God to examine our heart and motives, so that rather than deceiving ourselves, we rid ourselves of any self-seeking attitude.

May this be our prayer for one another that we will be the pleasing aroma of Christ drawing all people whom we meet to Him.