Recently, we were in Las Vegas for back-to-back NHRA drag races. On the Tuesday in between weekends, we were able to do a little sight-seeing, including taking a walk down the "Strip" in Las Vegas.
As we walked through the crowds of people on the "Strip," I couldn't help but notice the different fragrances that came from different people and from different buildings. We noticed that the Casinos worked diligently to keep the air free from cigarette smoke, and most of them had a subtle, yet sweet and pleasant fragrance in the air.
At the drag races there are a lot of fragrances. The word "fragrance" may be a little too soft of a word to describe race smells! Some fuels have a sweet scent to them. Nitro, on the other hand, doesn't just smell. It "gets involved" with all of your senses, burning your eyes and sinuses until tears flow. For some hooked race fans, nitro is like an addiction.
Burned rubber from the starting line not only smells, but it fills the air with smoke and little black residue falls on your clean white uniform, and it's quite entertaining to connect the dots on your face! Even a blind person can enjoy a drag race because of the smells, the sounds, the incredible rumble and other affects!
At Christmas time, there are definite aromas that fill the air that, in and of themselves, are capable of bringing back pleasant memories. The scent of pine from a Christmas tree or wreath, for instance, can bring a smile to my face. They even sell bottles of pine fragrance to spray around the house for those of us who, for whatever reason, adorn a fake tree.
Aromas from the kitchen of cinnamon, nutmeg, and all that wonderful, holiday cooking, can transport us into another place, another time. I can almost smell my Grandma's homemade bread baking right now! What delicious memories that invokes!
GUESS WHAT! God likes sweet fragrances, too! There are many passages in the Bible that refer to fragrances.
The Bible says:
"For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved..."
II Corinthians 2:15a
The very gifts that the magi presented Mary and Joseph after Jesus was born were gold, frankincense and myrrh. Two out of three were fragrant. They were very expensive and symbolic gifts.
This Christmas, every time you smell one of the many fragrances of the season, take time to give the greatest gift of all; your heart to Christ. Then you, too, will be a sweet fragrance to Him, and will even "rub off" on those around you.
