Christ's Triumph, Part 3

The Sweet Smell of Victory

At the end of your life, how will you measure success? What would you call a "victorious life?"

The Scripture defines success and even guarantees it. But it is a particular kind of victory.

When Paul promised that Christ would "lead us in triumph," he used the imagery of the “Roman Triumph,” a victory parade honoring a conquering general. It was a celebration everyone could see, hear, and smell.

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things? For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God. (2 Corinthians 2:1-17, NASB; my emphasis)

The general led his army through the streets of Rome, heading for the arena. For his soldiers, this was a day of highest honor and joyful celebration. Toward the rear of the parade were the vanquished enemy soldiers. Defeated and downcast, they trudged along in chains, knowing they would be killed when they reached the Coliseum.

Priests of ancient Rome accompanied the processional, twirling censers of burning incense. The sweet smell was a victory fragrance for the general and his army. But for the prisoners, it was the stench of death.

As we follow Christ and proclaim His gospel, there are only two kinds of people we meet: those who are being saved and those who are perishing. For some, the fragrance of Christ is the sweetest aroma they've ever experienced. They believe the gospel and are transformed. Others “smell” Christ and turn away. They are moving inexorably toward eternal death.

The gospel polarizes people. People, families, churches that live for Christ and faithfully teach the Bible “smell” like Jesus. That fragrance wafts through our neighborhoods and into homes, shops, offices, and schools. People are drawn to the Savior, or they are repelled.

Living our lives so the fragrance of Christ, the "smell" of the gospel, is always present, is triumph. We march behind our Savior, and lift Him up in all we say and do. If at the end, people would say, "He always reminded me of Jesus," that's success. If your legacy were "she lived the gospel for all to see," that's victory.