Just Thinking.........Again

2 Corinthians 2:14

¹⁴ Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. ¹⁵ For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. ¹⁶ To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? ¹⁷ For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.

As Paul examined what had happened to him and the circumstances around his life at that time he suddenly realizes how all this worked for God's purpose and glory.  It's a spontaneous worship as Paul is suddenly giving thanks to God.  No matter where Paul ended up ……. Corinth, Ephesus, Macedonia, Troas……..He knew God always led him and continued to do so.  Life was full of detours and disappointments and most of the time we can't explain them because they make no sense to us.  We can still be sure that God is faithful and we can hold fast to the assurance that he is in charge.

There was an open door before Paul but his heart and mind were in Corinth and he was drawn there.  Paul responds with praise to God knowing He leads us in Triumph.  This 'triumph' Paul is referring to would be like a ticker tape parade for us.  In those days when a general won a great war by killing at least five thousand enemy soldiers or conquered a land thereby bringing new territory to the emperor, that general was celebrated.  When he came into the city a great parade took place.  This was called the Roman triumph.

There are varying accounts of the specifics of a triumph but here is what it looked like.  The parade started with the state officials and senate leading the way.  They were followed by the trumpeters.  These trumpets announced something spectacular had happened and that the great man would soon be in sight.  Then the spoils of war from the conquered land were paraded.  The spoils were followed by pictures or models of the land, it ships or citadels that were conquered.  Next was a white bull that would be sacrificed.  The captured princes, leaders, generals who were all in chains followed the bull.  They would be killed as well, most likely not even living through the day.  There were then musicians that were followed by the priests swinging their censers filled with sweet smelling incense.  The priests led the way for the victorious general himself.  The star of the parade rode in a ornate chariot pulled by white horses and he was followed by his army wearing decorations of their victory, all the while shouting 'Triumph!'

An event like this didn't happen all the time.  In reality a person might only see this once or twice in his lifetime.  The city was decorated with bright colors, all the people lined the streets to see this event.  As it passed by, everyone threw flowers before the parade, the general and the army.  As the horses hoofs pulverized the flowers on the street there was a strong scent.  The scent of the flowers mixed with the incense to create a very powerful and very memorable fragrance of the triumph.

That was probably one of those smells that brought back memories.  "Ah, yes, it was a gorgeous day.  The sun was shining but it wasn't too hot.  I still remember that smell of the incense and flowers when the general returned from his great victory"  Isn't it amazing how a smell can initiate vivid feelings and memories in our head?

I imagine Paul must have seen at least one of these Triumphs.  Paul sees himself, his followers and all these believers in the area following their conquering general in a parade very much like a triumph.  All of them were in a triumph of Christ.  Paul saw Jesus as the conquering general and the believers follow after him shouting 'triumph!'  This parade of Christianity was working its way through Ephesus, Corinth, Troas, and many other cities.  All along the way, on all of Paul's missionary journeys he saw this as a triumph for Christ.

Jesus was the general and in charge of all that was happening.  He was calling the shots.  Paul wasn't in charge so he didn't have to worry about making the wrong decision or what would happen in Corinth or anywhere else.  Paul was reminding himself and us that in a very real sense the victory was already won.  So changes in plans and disappointment really weren't all that big a deal because Jesus is leading us in Triumph.

In the Roman empire after the triumph parade passed there was lingering fragrance of the flowers and incense.  It was in the air and everyone knew the triumph had been there.  In Paul's triumph God leads us in triumph with Christ and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge everywhere.  When the triumph of Christianity passed, Paul envisioned a lingering fragrance; a fragrance of knowledge of Christ.  Wherever Paul went, there was an after affect.  It was like a wake behind Paul.  That wake was the knowledge of Christ.  In that wake souls were saved, lives were changed because the knowledge of Jesus Christ was left behind.

Just like Paul left the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ wherever he went, we should be leaving behind a similar fragrance wherever we go.  What kind of fragrance are we leaving?  Much of what passes for Christianity doesn't leave a very good smell behind as it passes.  In many cases it flat out stinks.  How is it for you and I?  If we follow after Christ with all we have and we are part of this great triumph of Christ, we can't help but to be inundated with the aroma.

If you followed the triumph of one of these generals you would reek of flowers and incense.  It would be in your clothes, your hair, even in your pours.  It would be all over you.  You couldn't deny where you had been because you would reek of it.  When you've been in the triumph following Christ the aroma of his knowledge just becomes part of you.  It is normal and you don't notice it any longer.  Others that aren't used to it might say you reek of it.  It's all over you and comes out of you in every thing you say and do.

For the triumph of Jesus Christ it is the same way.  This fragrance of knowledge is left behind.  Everyone who experienced that triumph heard the same knowledge.  To those who name Jesus as their general, it is the smell of life and victory.  To those who are enemies, it smells like death.  To one Jesus is the aroma of life.  To another Jesus is the aroma of death.

Paul asked………"Who is sufficient for these things?"  None of us are sufficient.  I certainly don't feel qualified.  We need to know our sufficiency is in Christ alone.  We don't have to have well formulated plan.  We don't have to have a slick sales pitch because we aren't peddling the word of God.  We are living it, breathing it, walking in this triumph of Christ.

All this was said by Paul as a means of answering why he changed his plans or why he didn't do what he said he would.  Plans change because situations change.  Life changes, people change, feelings change, the world is changing.  It seems like such a little thing to fret over in the grand scheme of things doesn't it?

Life is full of disappointment and wrecked plans.  But its okay, let it go, remember with whom we walk and in whom we walk because we walk with Christ.  He will use every situation for his glory.  He will work in all things.  There is something bigger than our plans and our feelings that get disappointed.

Paul said we speak in the sight of God in Christ, sincerely.  We walk with him in Triumph.  We are in close proximity, He's just ahead, He's right there.  We can almost see him.  Are you ready?