Lingering Aroma

"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."
(2 Corinthians 2:14-15)

If you look at today's verse, it is talking about incense. The original idea Paul is drawing from is the Altar of Incense in the Tabernacle or Temple . . . that we are an incense unto God.

A history lesson gives us a better understanding. In the days when Paul was writing, and certainly in the ancient history of man, it was a very common occurrence especially among Roman rulers, that when they had taken their army and had overcome the enemy, they would come back to their own village or community in a parade . . . a processional. The watchman on the wall could see them coming for miles. The commander in chief would be on a horse, a white horse specifically, and leading this processional in front of his army. Behind him would follow all the captives from the conquered city. His soldiers would gather beside them to keep them in line and several of them would roll huge vessels of incense that would be burning as the parade would go through town.

Finally on the other side of town they would put the captives in a prison or jail to keep them there and the soldiers would perhaps go home to their families to celebrate the victory. The parade was over. But, there was still a lingering scent in the air of the incense that had come through town along with the processional celebrating victory.

The reason why they rolled the huge vessels of incense was that they wanted a reminder to that people that there had been victory. That smell lingered in the air; it was a very thick aromatic and sweet smell. All day long through the street the reminder lingered that there had been victory. The incense represented the reminder that there has been victory.

We are to be the aroma of Christ, that's why we're here. The question is, is your life evidence of His victory? That's our calling! We are called to be the lingering fragrance of victory. Our scripture today tells us that He always leads us into triumphal procession, but the question is, "Do we always follow where He leads?" In other words, we are guaranteed victory if we follow Him. There is no other path that guarantees victory!

Regardless of what you are facing in your life, there is victory for you. It has been set aside for you. You do not have inevitable defeat in front of you. Defeat is not of God! He is incapable of leading you to defeat. Christ only marches in victory . . . He only marches where He wins because He is the Sovereign Victorious. It is our responsibility to find where He's marching and get in behind Him . . . we were created to be in His shadow!

Our lives are to be evidence that He has overcome the world . . . the lingering aroma of His victory!

Dear Father, so many times my life is more of a "stench" in your nostrils rather than a "sweet aroma". Forgive me! Oh, Lord . . . forgive me for not always following You as You lead me in triumphal procession! Forgive me for finding my own path which oftentimes leads to everything but victory! Forgive me for not reminding everyone of Your victory through my life. Help me, Oh Lord, to be the aroma of Your victory in the earth today. Help me, oh Lord, to reflect Your presence wherever I go and in whatever I do. Help me, oh Lord, to follow hard after You, to carefully follow You as You lead me down the path of triumphal procession! May Your victory be witnessed in my life bringing glory to You . . . always! In Jesus' Name and in His Victory I pray, Amen and Amen!

"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
(1 Corinthians 15:57)

© 2008 Jan Ross
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