But thanks be to God! - Part 2

In Paul’s letters to the church in Corinth he includes three amazing ‘…but thanks be to God!’ statements. I looked at one yesterday, and will look at another tomorrow.

“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.” 2 Cor 2:14

We are surrounded by aromas all of the time. Some smells you may find gentle and relaxing while others are invigorating. Some will make you hungry while others may cause you to remember a days you had nearly forgotten. Some aromas will bring a smile to your lips while other a tear to your eye, but there is one thing that they all do, they silently invisibly fill the air.

If you have ever been in a lift when someone has let ‘one’ rip you will know how fast an aroma can fill the air. Or, so my wife claims, when we are sat on the sofa watching a movie, lost in the moment. Silently an offending force infiltrates the air until: “ANDREW!”
Naturally I am to blame for the offence! And if Ruth is being particularly dramatic she will leave the room gagging, trying to insinuate that her very life was some how in danger.

There are smells that I love, which fill me with such pleasure, and yet they turn Ruth’s stomach. There’s just no accounting for it but we do respond to smells differently; not that the aroma ever actually changes it is just because our sense of smell is ‘wired’ differently to the thoughts that it triggers.

“In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life. But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse.” 2 Cor 2:14-16 (Msg)