VICTORY AND TRIUMPH, 2

Thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? (2 Corinthians 2:14-16 ESV)

            The first article asked the question, “How do you spell victory?”  Some mistakenly spell it “victim!” There is no victory living like a victim. This article gives consideration to the concept of triumph.

The Scripture passage above is a picture from a scene common in the first century. The majority of the then-known world was under the rule of Caesar. Roman soldiers were posted in every part of his empire, maintaining peace and order. The result was the famous Pax Romana, the “peace of Rome.”

Any disturbance was met with a quick response from authorities. Soldiers dealt decisively against any uprising or revolt, protecting the interest of Caesar. They also secured cities from outside invasions. A walled community at any moment could find itself under siege and Roman commanders would engage in conflict. They fought the enemy from the walls and drove them into the battlefield, delivering the citizens. They were greatly feared and highly respected.

Visualize a Roman commander returning victoriously from conflict. As the victor, he leads the processional through the main gates and down the main thoroughfare. Immediately behind him is his army, followed by prisoners. Bringing up the rear are the spoils of war.

Running alongside the processional are incense bearers. A fragrant cloud floats in the air encircling them. The liberated citizens stand along the street smelling the incense and consider the aroma the scent of life. The captured prisoners enter the city and consider the aroma the scent of inevitable doom. The same fragrance has a radically different effect. Some savor the smell and others become soured by the stink. One group smells sweet perfume; the other smells a sickening odor.

            This is the word picture painted by the Apostle Paul. Note the impact and ramifications.

In Christ you are triumphant

            With a sudden outburst of thanksgiving, the Apostle Paul says, “But thanks be to God….” It is the cry of the town’s people cheering their liberation. Jesus, the Victor, is leading the Lord’s Army as the triumphant Commander. He is not leading into triumph but leading an already triumphant army.

            Christ has given you an all-inclusive victory. He has triumph over sins, transgressions and wrongdoings. He has triumph over the tempter, the accuser of your soul. He has triumph over problems, the consequences of wayward living. He has triumph over death, the consequences of rebellion. In Christ you are triumphant – you are completely victorious.

            Grasp the full significance of Paul’s proclamation. When struggling with a rebellious attitude, temptation, lust or sin, in Christ you gain confidence and assurance. Your victory is certain on account of His death and resurrection. The promise of Scripture is you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.

            I no longer allow myself to watch competitive sports on television during Sunday afternoons. I become very intense watching sporting events, especially if an avid fan of a player or team. I am unable to relax on the day of rest.

            Several years ago I regularly watched tennis tournaments; the French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. Bjong Borg was my all time favorite tennis player. He was scheduled to play John McEnroe (the media nicknamed “The Brat”) in the Wimbledon final. I had been watching Borg throughout the entire tournament and desperately wanted him to win the championship. I was feeling overly anxious while waiting for the final match.

             Wimbledon is an English tournament, played hours before shown on American television. Prior to the television broadcast radio news announced Borg had won. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the match. The assurance and confidence of knowing who won removed every sense of tension. In Christ you possess a similar confidence and assurance during earthly struggles. Jesus has already won and you are walking in His triumphant processional.

His processional has an aroma

            Your life is scented with the fragrance of Christ, the Commander and Chief. By staying close to Him in the unending triumphant march His incense bearers are surrounding you with the Victors aroma. You are received by others as they do Him. Those loving Him, depending on Him and longing to be close to Him are welcoming you, and those held captive to sin, envy and jealousy are uncomfortable around you.

            In His triumph, your life impacts others. You cannot prevent this; you cannot control the reaction. The effect is set in motion by your association with Jesus. You carry, on your person, the smell of salvation. People will think of you what they will and the fragrance of the processional causes mixed responses.

The aroma of death to captives

            Your life communicates eternal consequences. People living in unwholesome ways will be uncomfortable. The only way unbelievers can completely approve, accept and embrace believers is if they compromise their right standing with God. The perfume of truth stinks to prisoners of sin and the odor of lies is more acceptable to them. Approval only comes from letting off a compromising odor, even just a little.

            Natural science reveals darkness never dispels light but light always dispels darkness. In the same way, your life is meant to chase away defiance, to expose the rebellious life and reveal the eternal consequences of waywardness. When this occurs you give off a deadening fume.

            His victory lived out in your life bears witness of deadness. A pure and righteous life stinks of death to the dying, to those condemned. If your ambition becomes gaining social acceptance from those not living for God you are heading down a road of frustration. Those wishing to remain captive to sin will not desire your presence. You are a living and visible death sentence to non-believers. Few, if any, like being reminded of their impending doom and separation from God.

The aroma of life to the liberated

            The smell of salvation is a breath of fresh air to those delivered from bondage, like a liberated city. The Lord’s sweet perfume is upon you – the Commander’s incense has permeated you.

            Has someone you hardly know ever approached and asked, “You’re a believer in Jesus, aren’t you?” How did they know? They sensed the sweet aroma of the Savior.

            Have you ever talked to a stranger and immediately sensed they loved Jesus? How did you know? The Spirit that abides in you resides in them. You smell the perfume of salvation.

            For several years I made regular trips to El Salvador to help a missionary friend Don Triplet. We attended a Sunday service in the capital city during one of those trips. Knowing very little Spanish I figured out the theme of the entire service was the fragrance of salvation. At the conclusion ushers went to every person and put a small amount of perfume on the back of the hand. They demonstrated in a tangible way what Jesus does to everyone loving Him.

APPLICATION

            Those following Jesus are marching in the triumphant processional of the Lord and carry an aroma. Those who are liberated love the fragrance while those held captive shun the odor.

            While pastoring in a small rural Minnesota town, a bus was chartered to bring several people to an evangelistic crusade in Minneapolis. Riding down a rural highway, we drove past a hog farm. Hogs create some of the worse smells of country living. Everyone on the bus immediately started to gag except one lady, a hog farmer’s wife. She loudly proclaimed, “It may smell bad to you but smells like bread and butter to me.” Those not loving Jesus consider the smell of His followers as being similar to a hog farm while those following Jesus know they smell freshly-baked bread and sweet-melted butter. This is the natural outgrowth of marching in His processional. In Christ is a spiritual scent, considered wonderful by some while others wonder, “What is that horrible smell?”

            What happens when a believer chooses to live a compromising life? What happens when someone has one foot in God’s family and the other in worldly greed?  Neither group wants them! The smell seems wrong to both, not sweet enough or stink enough for either.

            My initial years as a believer were filled with compromise – sporadic church attendance, infrequent prayer times, on-again/off-again attempts at reading Scripture. I acted graciously around church people and acted greedily around non-churched people. I attempted to fit in both groups and ended up having no close associations in either. There was not enough of the right scent for anyone to be comfortable with me. No one was at fault for not fitting in, it was all me. Choose to march unreservedly in His processional. Fill your life with the aroma of victory. In His triumph is assurance, confidence and meaningful relationships.

            Peter Marshall, one time chaplain to the US Senate, spoke at a national conference.  As the focal point of his talk, he used the story of the confrontation of Elijah and the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel. He ended abruptly by saying, “If Jehovah be God, then serve Him – if Baal be god than serve him, and go to hell.” If you are determined to be a sinner, might as well be the worse sinner you can be because this life is all you have. If you are going to be a child of God then take hold of all His promises. Live His life and walk triumphantly.