My wife and I took a walk through the woods this past Sunday afternoon. The temperature was in the low 80’s with a gentle breeze blowing and the fragrance emanating from the ponderosa pine and Douglas fir was so wonderful.  During the warm days of spring and summer, the trees, in response to their environment of moisture, sunlight, air and warmth, through the process of photosynthesis, produce carbohydrates for growth.  Photosynthesis, an amazing process designed by the One who created trees, is arguably the most important process on earth, since all plant (as well as animal) life depends on it for sustenance and growth. During photosynthesis, carbon dioxide is drawn directly from the air and absorbed by the stomata on needles or leaves which open to the warmth of the spring and summer days. At the same time, pure oxygen is discharged back into the atmosphere. This is partly how the oxygen content of the atmosphere is maintained. What an amazing plan by our Creator God!  So, the balance of the oxygen content in the atmosphere that is so essential to life on earth, is controlled to a large extent by the growth process of plants and trees. 

     It is this discharge of oxygen into the atmosphere which gives that special quality of purity and freshness to forest and mountain air that we so enjoy on a warm summer day when the trees are growing at a maximum rate. No matter the species of tree, this is the season of setting and forming and ripening of fruit, as the trees respond to the warm air, light, and moisture.

     I am reminded of how growing Christians, responding to the light of Scriptures, the warmth of God’s love, and the work of the Holy Spirit within, produce a beautiful aroma to those around.  It is interesting that throughout the Bible, the Holy Spirit is likened to air and to wind (Eg., Jn. 3:8).  In fact, one of the Greek words which is translated “Holy Spirit” is pneuma, which means “movement of air” or “wind” or “breath.” We get our “pneumatic” from that Greek word.

     In plants and trees the process of growth is called “photosynthesis” but in believers it is called “sanctification,” the  process by which God is conforming us to the image of His Son (Ro. 8:29). It includes the filling or control of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:22; Gal. 5:16) and increasing Christlikeness. When you are in the presence of a Spirit-filled, growing Christian, there is a freshness and fragrance that emanates from their life. The Apostle Paul writes: “For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other, an aroma from life to life…” ( Cor. 2;14,15).  It is a beautiful experience for believers to be in the presence of growing Christians, but for those who are still in rejection of Christ, to be in their presence is not comfortable and they avoid doing so. It probably is convicting to them, reminding them of their rebellion and resistance to receive Christ. It speaks of their “way of death” of which Solomon wrote: “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Pr. 14:12). 

     What kind of “aroma” are you sending forth with your life?  Are you responding to the light of God’s Word, the warmth of His love and the work of the Holy Spirit within you resulting in the process of sanctification and growth in Christlikeness? God provides us with the environment in which we can grow, but we only do so as we respond positively to these stimuli. When we do, we are a joy to other believers. 

Forever His,

Pastor Dave N