"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:   and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

     "Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place." II Corinthians 2:14.

     It is often said of sacrifices or offerings that they are a sweet savour unto the Lord.   Paul goes on to say in the next verse that, "we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ. . ."   It is that fragrance, that sweet savour of Christ in us, that makes us pleasing and acceptable unto God.   It's a heavenly fragrance, and without it no one will ever enter there.   "Christ in you, the hope of glory." Colossians 1:27.

     Some people like to use perfume, and all delight in the smell of it, however we, as followers of Christ, should steep ourselves in His knowledge by diligent study of His Word and communion with Him, so that the fragrance of this knowledge may be made manifest by us in every place.   That should be our sweetest perfume.

     An old Persian fable tells of a lump of clay that had a surprising and remarkable fragrance.   When asked whence came this sweet perfume, the lump of clay replied that it had been dwelling with the rose.

     Likewise, we, who are but lumps of clay, made from the dust of the earth, by dwelling with Sharon's Rose, do take on the fragrance of the Son of God; the perfume of heaven.   It is our duty to spread this perfume abroad in the earth, "the savour of His knowledge."

     I used to think that this fragrance would kill some and give life to others, for verse 16 says, " To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life."

     But I read in John 3:17, "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."   This fragrance of God's Son is not come to kill, but to save; to give life.   It is therefore the rejection of this wonderful fragrance that kills.   "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." John 3:19.

     Men love the putrid smells of this world rather than the fragrance of heaven, and that is what kills.   Out of His great love, God sent His Son into this world, not to condemn, but to save; not to kill, but to give life eternal.   Some accept Him and receive life.   Others reject Him and receive death, as the consequence.   It is Jesus that makes the difference.

     God help us, that our lives may be so permeated with this sweet perfume of Christ, that we may cause others to desire to know Him; to desire that sweet perfume for themselves, that they, too, may go to heaven.

     This Christmas season, when you smell the sweet fragrance of a fresh cut pine tree, or the fragrance of an apple pie baking in the oven, be reminded to ask yourself, "How do I smell to God?"

Link to pictures and information on Carlton Elkins.

From the Land of The Rising Sun

Letters To The Editor

     Folks if you want to respond to something you have read in "Baptist Landmarks" please E-Mail your response to edit@BaptistLandmarks.org   Your response will be printed here.

     I would like to have a cartoon in each issue if possible.   If there is someone reading this paper who can draw cartoons that will cause us to laugh at the foolish things we sometimes do and cause us to think of how we could better serve our Savior, please E-Mail me and let me know.

     WILL YOU TAKE A POSITIVE STAND FOR LANDMARK DOCTRINES, HISTORIC BAPTIST INDEPENDENCE, AND DIRECT MISSION PRACTICE?   THEN, "LIKE" US ON FACEBOOK, AND SPREAD THE TRUTH, AS IT IS IN THE WORD OF GOD.

You will need to sign in to your Facebook account.