Inhale, Exhale

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:15 | James 4:14

Last night, I was hanging out with some of my best guy friends, and we got into a conversation about smells. One guy said there's nothing worse than the smell of a dead body. I mentioned the awful smell of a refrigerator full of spoiled food after a hurricane—oddly specific, but if you know, you know.

The science behind how we smell things is pretty fascinating. Imagine you bake a fresh loaf of bread. You can smell it because the bread releases tiny molecules into the air and when you breathe them in, your olfactory receptors help identify the odor. Ever had a smell "stuck in your nose"? That happens because the scent was so strong that the molecules lingered in your receptors long after the molecules were originally inhaled.

As I was reading the Word today, I was reminded of some verses about aromas. 2 Corinthians 2:15 says, "For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing." and James 4:14 says, "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."

I've read these verses before, but they hit me today in a new way: our lives are literally aromas to God.

You can tell a lot about something just from it's aroma. You can figure out when food has started spoiling, and often, you can tell how far along it is in the process. Like when you smell leftover mashed potatoes a week later. They're not fresh anymore, but they might still be safe to eat one more time. A scent doesn’t just tell you if something’s safe or pleasant; it gives you subtle messages. Smelling a fresh linen candle at Target might remind you of sunny days and fresh laundry. It might even nudge you to do laundry when you get home. And the next time you peruse the candle section at Target, it’ll probably trigger you to look for that scent you enjoyed last time you were there.

When I read those verses, I thought about the aroma my life is giving to God. Does He breathe in and think, "His life is somewhat fresh, but he's holding on to some bad habits that are clouding our relationship." Does He breathe in and think, "this reminds me of the sweet mornings we've spent together. I hope we have more!" Or does the aroma of my life bring a tear to His eye because I’m making choices that aren’t life-giving, and He longs for me to come to Him with them?

Maybe I'm overthinking it, but I’m a simple guy when it comes to following Jesus, and this thought makes sense to me. What aroma is my life giving off to the One who cares for me most?

May our lives pour out the sweet aroma of Jesus and draw others into His embrace.

Thanks for reading, friends