The Stench of Sin
The Stench of Sin in Your Life
Have you ever seen a little skunk like this one scampering about in the woods?
He’s cute alright.
But, this little critter can strike fear in the hearts of anyone who crosses its path.
Did you know that a skunk’s stinky spray can travel over three miles downwind?
It’s so strong, you can even smell the spray inside your car when traveling down a country road.
My husband likes to tell the story of a dog he used to own.
Cindy the lab once caught a skunk in the backyard and, yes, she got sprayed.
It took a lot of effort to rid her coat from the stench.
But, even with the multiple dog baths, the disgusting smell stayed on her breath for a very long time.
In the same way, the stench of sin is an offense to our Holy God.
The Stench of Sin Offends God
No doubt about it, we all fall short.
From the hardened criminal on death row to the religious leaders that are sometimes put on a pedestal.
The following is an often-quoted verse from one of the Psalms of David. Here, he reflects on the fallen state of mankind.
We are no different in today’s world.
2 The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of mankind
To see if there are any who understand,
Who seek God.
3 They have all turned aside, together they are corrupt;
There is no one who does good, not even one. – Psalm 14:2-3, (NASB).1
We are capable of good deeds, yes, but good works don’t get us into Heaven.
Our salvation is through Jesus Christ alone.
In other words, we can’t save ourselves – no matter how much money we raise for charity, or how much we put into the offering plate on Sundays.
The fact is that our Sovereign God who created us, hates sin.
We are born with a sinful nature.
We’d better acknowledge that and not let a fallen culture try to tell us that anything goes.
All of us need to feel convicted for our sins and the importance of repentance before our Heavenly Father.
Fortunately, God made a way for us to be forgiven of our sin and be saved through Jesus Christ. Salvation is based on Jesus’ goodness, and “in him is no sin” (1 John 3:5). While we were in our sinful state, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8), and if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, we will be saved (Romans 10:9). Christ alone was good enough to earn heaven, and He declares righteous those who trust in Him for salvation (Romans 1:17). – GotQuestions.org.2
Heavenly Scent: The Aroma of Christ’s Presence in Our Lives
Do you have a favorite scent?
If you asked me, I would say “Cinnamon” or “Pumpkin.”
Maybe a loaf of fresh bread baking in the oven!
Fragrances such as those filling my whole house instantly remind me of happy gatherings with friends during the holidays.
I want to smell those pleasing aromas all the time!
In the same way, the spiritual aroma of our faith in Christ is a blessing to all who experience it.
A life lived for Christ washes away the stench of sin from our repentant hearts.
14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us reveals the fragrance of the knowledge of Him in every place. 15 For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing: 16 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? 17 For we are not like the many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.– 2 Cor 2:14-17, (NASB).3
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1 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.
2 Quotation from gotquestions.org, from “What does it mean that ‘there is none who does good, no not one’ (Psalm 14:3; Romans 3:12)?” n.d., para. 4. Web. Accessed February 15, 2024. None who does good application.
3 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.
