(Read 2 Corinthians 2)
Things just don’t happen accidentally. God puts people, places, and things in our lives for specific reasons according to His master plan. When serving on a church leadership body about 15 years ago, our Pastor put me on a committee with two other gentlemen I barely knew. They were older than me and had been at the church decades longer than our family. We were supposed to prepare a presentation, “A Year in Review,” for an annual congregational meeting. We decided upon storytelling through a video.
3 Guys in the Dark is what we donned ourselves. We produced about eight or more videos over a decade. The crucial part of this experience is what we gained from serving the LORD together. One member of 3 Guys in the Dark was John. I got to know his wife (M) over the years, from her time serving in multiple capacities in the church to the times our 3 Guys meetings were held at their house. She couldn’t have been any more gracious.
(M) remembered going to church all the time as a teenager but couldn’t recall any memories that stood out to her. “But I’ve always believed in God,” she said. “Everything you see around you, you know God’s there. He’s in everything: the birds singing, the sky, the trees, the children playing.” (M) said she had nothing growing up. I could see her smiling over the phone, “I had a good marriage; I’ve been so blessed just having the life I have. From childhood to what I have is a miracle!”
But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.
For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.
2 Corinthians 2:14-15
Paul’s transitions from suffering and affliction earlier in 2 Corinthians into a triumphant declaration of victory. A triumphant procession would have been a familiar scene for people in Paul’s day. Many had witnessed Roman victory processions, known as triumphs. These elaborate celebrations were bestowed upon military commanders who secured victories for the Roman state. The processions featured the spoils of war, musicians, sacrificial animals, and offerings to the god Jupiter. Incense burned on the altars, filling the air with a rich and fragrant aroma. From the pleasant smells that permeated the air, there was no denying the victorious celebrations. Paul’s message connects these historical events to God’s redemptive work in believers. As sinners, God leads us in a triumphant procession for His glory.
(M) should have leadership emeritus status for her service at her church. “I get pleasure out of serving,” she mentioned. With sincere humility, she added, “Thirty years in the choir, twenty years doing hospitality for fellowship, and twenty years for Dutch Picnic.” (M) fully embodies the 20/80 (20% of the people do 80% of the work) rule that most churches succumb to, and she was a large chunk of the 20. “It was something I could do, and people seemed to enjoy it.”
Two years before we said goodbye to our old church friends and moved away, my 3 Guys buddy, John, passed away. Being the righteous, resilient, and incredible woman she is, (M) has persevered. She attends church regularly, visits with friends, and, most importantly, serves her sisters and brothers in Christ in any way possible. (M) checks in on people she can’t visit and regularly visits with friends suffering from loss and illness. She wouldn’t describe it this way, but I’d call it a ministry—one more feather in her service cap.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.
1 Peter 1:3-4
With the world crumbling beneath their feet, Peter offered a beacon of hope in his letter. He reminds us that Jesus’ resurrection power gives us a living hope, an inheritance secured by God’s unfailing love. Peter taught that even in the face of trials, believers should rest in the assurance of their salvation and the imperishable, eternal inheritance that awaits. Focus on the eternal rather than the temporary.
“I first felt a real closeness to Jesus when I prayed to Him that John would go before me because I knew no one could care for him like He could.” He listened. John had a congenital heart issue that required a transplant that allowed him two decades of life. Towards the end, he spent several months in a hospital. (M) read me a letter he wrote while there entitled “Vacation from Death.” It said:
“I’m not in prison for being sick. We’re on vacation from death. We’re very lucky. Someone you don’t know gave a piece of themselves so I could live.”
(M) shared John’s letter with me because she knows how much I loved him, but also because of her Christian mission. She is in pain from the neck down. “I have arthritis everywhere and hurt all the time. Life is rough, but you have to believe in something, or you won’t get through it.” For the many years I’ve known her, (M) has been the literal illustration not of happiness but of joy and hope. Her petite frame lights the world like a million-candle-powered lighthouse. At one church event, she skipped eating to make 60 sandwiches, ate a few small scraps at the end of the night, and felt guilty when someone came up after asking for more.
To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.
2 Corinthians 2:16-17
I don’t remember these two verses in this chapter. Perhaps the editors of my Bible just added them. It begs the question, “Who is equal to such a task?” My friend (M) is. She has given her adult life to the glory of God, serving the mission He lauded over to her. Her spiritual gifts and love language are one.
The fragrances of Roman victories were memorable, but the fragrance of spreading the good news is world-changing. Fragrances can be either delightful or repelling, depending on the individual receiving them. The Romans had their victories, but Paul revealed that believers are part of a greater, more significant victory—actively involved in God’s ongoing work of sharing the gospel. The “aroma” of Christ through (M)’s life impacts the world around her. She brings God’s living hope to His children.
“A few years ago, I prayed that God would give me two more Christmases. He gave me three. I should have asked for eight!” We laughed. We briefly discussed the other of the “3 Guys” member who passed away during Covid. “So now you have 1 Guy in the dark and two in the light,” (M) reminded me. “Sometimes God is slow in answering my prayers, but I know when I feel the light, I won’t feel the pain.”
“The most compelling evidence that Christ is alive and triumphant is His activity in the lives of His people.”
Henry Blackabay
The Holy Spirit within (M) accomplishes more for others than she could ever do alone or in worldly charity. Throughout her entire life, (M) fans the “aroma of Christ” like the wind. It’s a reward that surpasses anything this world can offer, a heavenly treasure that awaits all who follow Jesus.
For to His angels He’s given a command
To guard you in all of your ways
Upon their hands they will bear you up
Lest you dash your foot against a stoneAnd He will raise you up on eagles’ wings
Bear you on the breath of dawn
Make you to shine like the sun
And hold you in the palm of His hand
And hold you, hold you in the palm of His hand
On Eagles Wings – Michael Joncas
Key Applications:
- Embody Christ’s character in your daily life. Your actions and attitudes should reflect His love and grace.
- Recognize the privilege and responsibility of being vessels for Christ’s message. Be intentional about sharing the knowledge of Christ with others through your words, actions, or service. Allow others to experience His love and grace through you.
- Seek to bring life into your environments—at work, home, or community. Engage in conversations that uplift others, provide hope, and promote positivity, mirroring the aroma of Christ.