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.

~2 Corinthians 2:15 NLT

Having once been antique collectors and dealers—and still loving antiques—my wife and I love the smell of “old.” But smelling good for God. Well, that’s another story.

How does old smell? Perhaps only those who deal with old things can tell. When I open a book published in the 1800’s, I smell old in the book. When I bought an old oak desk and brought it home, I opened the drawers to the aroma of “old.”

“Smell this,” I said to my wife.

I remember when I inherited my mother’s first China cabinet. My wife opened the bottom two cabinets and said, “This smells old.”

Although we like things that smell old, we don’t necessarily want our home to smell old. And it can’t because it’s not old. Additionally, my wife has air fresheners or warmers in almost every room. Various fragrances float through the air, touching every piece of furniture and clothes. We don’t necessarily perceive it, but if we leave home and go somewhere else, we notice our clothes smell like our house.

Paul says our lives are a Christ-like fragrance that ascends to God. Just as my wife and I have fragrances we adore—old being one of them—God also does. There are some air fresheners we won’t buy because the aroma repels us. God has special fragrances He enjoys, too. Not all aromas that rise to Him will receive a “That smells good” response.

God loves the fragrance of holiness. He is holy, and He expects the same aroma from us. While He gives us the fragrance of righteousness (holiness) when we trust Christ as our Savior, we must put forth effort and rely on God’s Spirit to emit that fragrance regularly. Holiness doesn’t happen automatically. We must transfer our position into holiness by practice.

Only by entirely depending on God’s power and placing ourselves around those things and people that discharge holiness can we ever hope to smell good for God. Those emitting the same aroma as us will enjoy a similar fragrance, but those emitting sinful aromas will most likely not appreciate our smell. When smelling good for God, we will always face opposition.

Pay attention daily to what type of fragrance you emit.

Father, remind me of whom I represent so I can release a fragrance that pleases You and points others to You.

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2025: Martin Wiles: Smelling Good for God: All Rights Reserved.