Smoke and Fragrances Diffusing Through the Air
Have you ever noticed how certain odors trigger memories? Believe it or not, for me second-hand cigarette smoke is a sweet fragrance. Not because I smoke, and not because I want to smoke (I do not). But because the smell of second hand cigarette smoke reminds me of my grandfather. When I pass by a smoker I almost always think of him. I don’t mind indoor smokers because of this. It is a very pleasant experience because of the fond memories of my grandfather in my childhood.
Smoke, like all fragrances spreads through the air and permeates almost everything. Smoke often has with it an odor that spreads and is sensed by most everyone around. Similarly, certain forms of knowledge are like fragrances. Not all knowledge spreads easily. And other knowledge spreads difficultly and some slowly. Some knowledge spreads wildly and freely; other knowledge we must pay for and obtain with great difficutlty.
Knowledge spreads best when it is very good or very bad and when fully embraced. It also spreads best when its falls into the hands of gifted teachers.
Knowledge spreads like fragrance but it needs a different medium than air. It spreads through people. Furthermore, the apostle Paul compared fragrance to the knowledge of Jesus Christ spreading throughout humanity.
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.” Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 2:14
What Does Burning Incense Mean in the Bible?
Paul in writing to the Corinthian group of Christians, is not the first writer of scripture to compare fragrant smoke to something spiritual. In the instructions for the tabernacle of Moses there was detailed instruction for the smoke of incense. Incense is a fragrant fine-smelling smoke. And incense was used in the tabernacle of Moses (Ex 25:37) and in the book of Revelation, the spiritual meaning of this incense is explained (Rev 5:8, 8:3-4). The incense was to represent the prayers of the saints rising up to thone of God.
So the smoke of the incense is the prayers of God’s people, rising up to God with faith. And thereby the will of God is done on earth as it is in heaven. And similarlly the smoke of the fragrance of the knowledge of Jesus Christ fills the earth. It fills humanity, it fills the spiritual places in heavenly places. It will continue to increase forever and will fill the entire universe. Never forget, it is written that of the increase of his kingdom there will be no end.
More fascinating details about the fragrance of the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
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