Sweet aroma … #lilacs; #victoryinJesus
Here in the north our lilacs are finally in full bloom. The fragrance in the yard is wonderful and the closer I draw to these lovely purple wonders, the stronger come sweet memories. For me, the fragrance of lilacs are forever united with memories of my grandparents’ and their home. Today as I buried my face in the lilac bush and inhaled deeply, I closed my eyes and instantly I could see their entire house, entrance, back yard, and every room. Every sweet memory of Grandma’s loving hugs and Grandpa’s warm laughter – everything – flooded into my mind in a nanosecond, in my own backyard.
It is a scientific wonder that smell and memory are intertwined. This is the purpose behind the “sweet savor” offerings given to the LORD. After the flood, Noah offered a burnt offering, and the LORD “smelled a sweet savor”. The Father inhaled that delightful aroma and said, “I will not again curse the ground anymore for man’s sake.” What did He smell that brought forth such a blessing?
The delight of His heart, which the burnt offering symbolized: His Beloved Son who “gave Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor”. Into the Father’s senses came rushing everything about His wonderful Son and all that would come from His sufferings of the cross – the removal of the curse, the salvation of the nations, His everlasting Kingdom and eternal glory.
And although this world is sin-sick and our hearts feel often heavy, every time we draw near the cross, we can inhale deeply and experience the rush of every promise He has made, and say … “Now thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ, and makes manifest the aroma of His knowledge through us in every place we go. For we are to God a sweet aroma of Christ.”
Ah … the fragrance of Victory is in the air.
