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Have you ever noticed that there are some smells that people love while others despise?

I will never forget pulling up to the gas station as a kid and having my brother say, “I love the smell of gas.” I thought I might gag. We had two completely different reactions to the same scent.

I have experienced this along the coast too. There is a certain fishy, salty, one of a kind smell that comes along a pier. I have walked along breathing in slowly and deeply the scent that triggers happiness in my thoughts, while others with me have been holding their breath.

Some smells have a way of bringing us back to a time or place we have previously been. They tie us to our memories. While still not a fan of gasoline’s fragrance, I am a fan of my brother and I think of him often while I am filling up my tank. When I catch the scent of a coastal pier, I am propelled back in time to my childhood and my love of the beach, which was my playground.

In much the same way, although the outcome was good, I cannot enter into a hospital without the smell bringing out huge feelings to the point of making my stomach turn. My emotions tied to hospitals involve great stress. Great fear. I am reminded of how close I was to losing my child, and must remind myself that while it was a difficult time, my results were good.

Fragrance – smell – has a power to draw us in or repel us.

The Bible says that our lives become like a fragrance to others. “Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume.” (2 Corinthians 2:15-16)

The fragrance of our lives is perceived differently depending on the person’s spiritual health or awareness of God. If the person knows of Jesus, or is open toward knowing Jesus – moving toward him – then the person will be drawn to what is like Him. I am convinced that the more time I spend with anyone, the more I become like them.  Therefore, it makes sense, does it not, to realize that the fragrance my life produces as a follower of Christ bears resemblance to the fragrance of Christ’s own life? No wonder Christ followers are attracted to the scent! They are attracted to God’s goodness and reminded of His grace!

Yet for those who do not know Christ, or those who are against Him, the scent of Christ wreaks of death and doom. The feelings that are generated by the scent of Jesus are strong. Their feelings are just negative. They haven’t experienced His goodness. They haven’t received His grace. They don’t believe in His unconditional love. They can’t admit their need for a savior.  

To be honest, I don’t understand the association of a Christ-like scent representing anything bad or negative. I can’t. Christ has saved me. Provided for me. Loved me. Been present with me. When I think about all that Christ has walked me through, and continues to lovingly provide, the only fragrance left is sweet and good. I am not trying to say that my circumstances have always been good. They haven’t. Not even close. But Christ’s goodness and presence has been with me throughout each and every trial. Good came from the bad – in the way of increasing my understanding of who He is and His great love for me. I know who I am in Christ. My future is secure. My present situations are saturated with His fragrance, and in it I find comfort and peace.

As Christ followers, may we continue to spread His fragrance that stems from love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. May we ever grow in our nearness to Christ, so that we take on more and more of His scent.

Blessings!