My favourite perfume is Azureé by Estée Lauder. It’s been my signature fragrance since my early twenties. It’s described as ‘The sunlit fragrance. Radiant and sparkly, balancing a vibrant tang of citrus and earthy richness. The feeling is light and sunlit, with a rich warmth.’ It is a very distinctive aroma, but a few years ago they changed it and now it isn’t so deep and distinct. It seems that removing and substituting one ingredient has diluted that earthiness it once had.
As Christians, we are fragrance carriers of Jesus. We take His aroma into every space we go. We pick up his fragrance when we linger in His presence. The more time we spend, the longer we linger, the stronger our fragrance. In John 12:1-7 we read how a woman called Mary anointed Jesus with an expensive perfumed oil. As she poured the oil, the fragrance filled the room. Now imagine the smell. Now fast forward to today. Wouldn’t it be amazing to walk into a room and the heady fragrance of Jesus filled that room, the aroma of His holiness and love.
A couple of weeks ago at a prayer meeting I felt God say I should go to the back of the room and look out of the window. When I looked out, I saw a neglected strip of grass and weeds. But amongst the weeds I saw tulips and bluebells. There was a stark contrast between the neglected grass and weeds and the beautiful reds and blues of the flowers. I saw this and thought that’s how we should stand out in the places we go. If you have ever been to a wood full of bluebells, not only is it visually stunning, but there is a powerful fragrance carried in the air. It’s a distinct and beautiful aroma. We have both the beauty and aroma of Christ to carry into all situations. We can radiate the love and joy of Jesus and carry the fragrant oil of holiness, healing and salvation.
Sometimes it is all too easy to dilute the fragrance of Jesus with the world view. To become so politically correct that the aromatic oil seems to turn to unscented water. We are called to love and follow as Jesus goes before us and makes our way ahead. We follow his leadership and look at what He is doing so we can partner with Him. He is always on mission and asks us to be his co-workers. ‘For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.’ (Ephesians 2:10).
In my experience, when I wear my signature fragrance, people will ask what it is. That doesn’t mean to say they like it. I’ve been told it smells like air freshener; others love it! Isn’t that how we should carry the fragrance of Jesus? So strong that it causes a reaction before we even speak. Not everyone will like it, but it can’t be ignored. ‘15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 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?’ (2 Corinthians 2:15-16).
Like the bluebells and tulips, we are asked to stand out from the crowd and make a distinct difference. Bringing beauty into the neglected, forgotten or even the extravagant places we are sent to. ‘He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.’ (Mark 16:15).
Featured photo by bady abbas on Unsplash
