Everything has an aroma, a specific smell associated with it. For many of us, the slightest hint of a distinct fragrance takes us back to a favorite childhood memory or a treasured vacation spot. There’s a specific uniqueness associated with each scent. For instance, a rose, no matter how hard it tries, will never be able to smell like anything other than a rose. In the same way, an apple can never exude the scent of an orange.  For an aroma to exist, there has to be a source, a center from which the fragrance spreads. The fragrance is very precise and its identity cannot be mistaken for anything else. The source is what ultimately determines the aroma that fills the air.

A fragrance can also be difficult to contain. When a scented candle is lit, it’s only a matter of time until the aroma fills the entire room.  We’ve all experienced this pleasant sensation when we walk into a friend’s home.  On the flip side, we’ve also experienced the appalling sensation of a pungent smell that is much less soothing to our souls [insert your horror story here]. All that to say, the aroma radiates from its source.

Dictionary.com defines radiate in this way:

So, in order for something to radiate, there has to be a source, a center from which the rays begin. Why does this matter to us? Because, whether we realize it or not, we are all “emitting rays” into the world. On the good days, it might be rays of kindness, joy, and compassion. On the bad days, it might be rays of fear, anger, or impatience. Our rays have the potential to cause great healing but they also hold the power to cause great hurt. But, what if our rays could be consistent no matter the circumstances or surroundings? What if people were better versions of themselves after an encounter with us?

2 Corinthians 2:14-16 says:

 “14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in Christ’s triumphal procession and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of him in every place. 15 For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.16 To some we are an aroma of death leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life leading to life.”

As Christians, we carry the aroma of Christ. Our lives bear the mark of Christ. The very source of who we are is our relationship with Christ. There is an aroma of hope, love, and grace that goes before us, one that cannot be confused with anything else on this earth.

Even on the days when everything is falling apart, we can cling to the love of a heavenly Father who loved us enough to send His Son as the ultimate sacrifice. There is consistency in the fragrance of Christ. But, we have to be open to it and give Jesus access to our hearts. There is nothing sweeter than when the Holy Spirit takes residence in our souls, the core of who we are. He might wreck a few things in the process, but the result is better than we could ever imagine.  We may not be able to control or predict how everyone will respond to the aroma of Christ, which can be scary and disheartening, but that does not change the life-giving power of the aroma. There is no way to mask or disguise the scent of a believer who loves Jesus and holds nothing back. As Matthew 5:14 says, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

What aroma is radiating from your life? Does it align with the consistency of Christ?

Just remember...an aroma always radiates from its source. Let Jesus be your source of life. On many occasions, a fragrance can be detected long before the source is discovered. Let the radiance of Christ go before you and light up the path of redemption for all to see. Live worthy of the calling; so worthy that people can’t help but follow you to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.