Beneath That Beautiful Aroma

I’ve been sensitive to smells for as long as I can remember. Whether it’s good, bad, or ugly, my sniffer will pick it up. As we tiptoe into these prized autumn months, I’ve been refreshingly greeted by the soft scents of the cool breeze, cinnamon-filled treats, pumpkins, and (perhaps my favorite) apples.

A few weekends ago, my husband and I drove to a nearby orchard to pick these delicious treats for ourselves. Growing up, it was something my mom used to love to do as a family activity (and it was a cheap outing for six kiddos). So, when I realized that my husband had never experienced the glory of an apple grove, I took the opportunity to introduce him to a fun fall tradition.

When we arrived, we grabbed a wagon and went to see the many apples in store for us on the 100-acre farm. Among the varieties were Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Arkansas black, Fuji, and many more! But as we started making our way down the countless rows of trees, I remembered something I’d forgotten about my early apple-picking trips – the smells.

Almost instantly, we were plagued by the scent of fresh apples. And I have to admit that those fresh fruits smelled better than any candle or soap fragrance shop could muster! But, combating the scent of apples on the trees was the old, fallen, and rotten ones piling high on the ground. Some had naturally plummeted from the branches, while others met that fate from unsatisfied pickers tossing them.

It seemed like a battle as to which scent would reign supreme. Would Farm Fresh be the winner? Or would the smell of fermenting rot take our noses down for the count?

After it was all said and done, the good outweighed the bad, and we ended up with two and a half pecks full of apples to preserve for the winter. Yet, as we drove home, I couldn’t help but think about those sour-smelling apples. They were rotting and nasty. If it hadn’t been for the hope of a fresh homemade apple pie or bread, the stench could have easily distracted us from our picking goal.

The same can be true of a believer’s walk with Jesus.

As we trek on the Christian walk, it’s hard always to stay focused on the things the Lord intends to use to make us more dependent upon Him. Instead, we’re often tempted to look at our own spoiled fruit and that which others have left behind on our path.

Those fruits may resemble bitterness, hate, unanswered prayers, and trials. Other times, it’s the shambles of betrayal, jealousy, and broken trust. Yet, it can also look like infertility, marriage strife, sickness, and losing a loved one. The thought of what could be is distracting and rots away precious time we’ve been given to serve the Lord with gladness.

In the middle of sniffing that old fruit, we take our gaze off of the One who has the sweetest aroma of all.

Perhaps no one understood this better than the Apostle Paul. In 2 Corinthians 2:14-16, he explains the life-giving scent of a Christ follower. It says,

But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For are we to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 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?

Can your non-believer friends – or even your closest Christian friends – smell Jesus on you? Or are they catching the whiff of your worldly rot?

Seeking His sweet fragrance is better than any orchard could offer.