When I think of a meaningless, vapid life two names come to mind: Lindsey Lohan and Paris Hilton. Both are pretty women whose faces are (or were) frequently in the news, but neither has made any kind of actual contribution to the world. Despite advantages of wealth and beauty, their lives appear to be wasted on frivolous pursuits of pleasure and lack substance. Many people are existing in that same kind of state though not to the notable extremes of Lohan and Paris. Forgettable people are adrift in the world, avoiding hard choices, watching TV late into the night, keeping themselves entertained, and making barely a trace as they pass through!
The late Ray Stedman says that the third mark of the authentic Christian is unforgettable impact that the Presence of Christ in us creates in this world. "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of 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, like men sent from God." (2 Corinthians 2:14-17, NIV)
It is interesting that Paul chooses to illustrate the unforgettable impact of a genuine Christian’s life using fragrance, but he is right on with what we know about our sense of smell. Though many of are unaware of how we use our noses, what we smell and the memories we associate with certain scents evoke powerful emotions. We identify people, in part, by scent though most of us don’t consciously do it. We are attracted to some, repelled from others, by scent and not just powerful ones like perfumes or body odor, but the more subtle scents that are unique to each of us. Science suggests that memories of scents persist in our brain for years!
Paul says that as the authentic Christian moves through his world he gives off the smell of Jesus’ Presence! But not all find it a pleasant scent. Some are reminded only of their sin and their alienation from God. Others are reminded of the love of their Father! “To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.”
Are you living a life that is engaged with God, that wrestles with the tough issues of the world in which you walk, that is robust in faith? Does your Christianity cause you to break a sweat, figuratively speaking? Or, is what you call ‘being Christian’ a tame experience of sitting on a church pew, comforted by soothing words, promised Heaven at the end of a life that valued ease and pleasure above all else?
Pastor Stedman wrote: “Authentic Christianity leaves a lingering fragrance to God of Jesus Christ, no matter what--but to human beings, it is either a fragrance of death to death or of life to life. But what about phony Christianity? That's another matter altogether--it just a bad smell! You've certainly heard the only one-liner--"Old fishermen never die--they only smell that way." The same can be said for false Christianity. It never dies; it only smells that way.”
Get sweaty for God! Get so close to Jesus that His scent rubs off on you! Be authentic!
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