By Staff
What does your life smell like? This is not a personal hygiene question. Fragrance is crucial. Our senses connect us to the world and the people that surround us. A particular sight, a sound, or a smell can transport us back years to memories good and bad. There was the smell of Grandma's kitchen, fresh baked cookies, and clean air after a rain, etc.
There is probably more nostalgia associated with smell than anything else. Our life impacts every person we meet and leaves a lasting effect.
What does our life smell like? Is there a refreshing fragrance, or is there a putrid aroma to be avoided? Our model is and should always be the life of Jesus Christ. Everyone who met Jesus while He walked this earth as a man was never the same again, regardless of the outcome of the meeting.
Jesus was anointed with the "oil of joy" or "oil of gladness" (Psalm 45:7; Isaiah 61:3; Hebrews 1:9). Scripture never states that Jesus literally had the anointing oil poured on Him as Samuel anointed David king (1 Samuel 16:13). Jesus was anointed by God.
The anointing oil prescribed in the Old Testament was a special mixture of olive oil with myrrh, sweet smelling cinnamon, sweet smelling cane, and cassia (Exodus 30:23-25).
This oil was used to anoint people set apart by God as well as the instruments and articles of worship in the Tabernacle. The oil was very fragrant.
The people of Israel were to come to the tabernacle or the temple several times a year to worship. You can be sure the place of worship was filled with the wonderful smell of the anointing oil. People were always to come before the Lord with praise, thanksgiving, and joy; hence, the oil of joy or oil of gladness. It would have been impossible to disassociate the fragrance of the place of worship with the act of worship. Got dwelt among His people in the tabernacle or temple; therefore, the presence of the Lord had a fragrance.
Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Joy is being God-filled. Joy is an attitude of heart and mind that is surrendered to and satisfied with God and whatever He is doing. People who are filled with joy are not passive; they are seeking, asking, knocking. They are ever digging in the Scriptures to get to know God more intimately and to glean all God has for them.
To really know God is to be filled with an excitement about God. Psalms, chapter 45, verse 7, speaks of the "oil of gladness" which permeated clothing, buildings, etc. When people came into God's presence, they were lifted up.
Isaiah, chapter 61, verse 3, speaks of the "oil of joy for mourning." A Christian never mourns like one who has no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). The presence of Christ, evidenced by joy and hope, exudes a fragrance that lifts every person we interact with.
The challenge for every Christian is to live an anointed life, filled with the Holy Spirit. The result will be a sweet fragrance that touches people, ministers to them, and leaves a lasting godly influence.
Is your life a refreshing fragrance? Probably not best to try to determine that on our own.
Ask those who live and work in close proximity as to what our life smells like.
He writes a weekly column for the Niles Daily Star.