By Rajmund Dabrowski

Many of us have favorite Bible texts. Likely every Christian has them. My mind circles around several. For different occasions. The one I would like to share is for the “world of communication.” I suppose you would expect me to have one of these

In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way to salvation—an aroma redolent with life. But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse. (From The Message, 2 Cor 2:14-16)

Chanel No. 5. I can smell it always. And you can be sure —my head turns around and . . . there she is. Chanel No. 5.

Smells, fragrances, perfumes. You can smell them endlessly. They are ever present. They can become a lesson or two.

Without moralizing too much, let me just make a point or two. The Lord’s apostle, Paul, goes straight for the bull’s eye: Through us . . . people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. He goes right into the metaphor which they understood and we can, too. As a Christian—I smell. I am a “walking perfume.” That’s what Paul says. Some may not like it (don’t be bothered by them—they are on the way out), others do. Those who are for keeps smell the aroma. And the aroma they smell is good. It’s full of life, joy, hope and future.

Let me illustrate it by an engaging story I read, a story about Jacob. Just imagine: A Jewish town. A bakery. And long lines every morning of people awaiting their turn to get the best bread in town. In the bakery, Jacob. A great baker and a wise man. He is the last one to leave the bakery at night and the first one in the early hours of the morning. But he has something to tell each one of us.

Everyone wants to see and talk to Jacob, listen to him, be with him. Words of wisdom? “Will he have them for me?”

Listen to this: A man stiff with proudness looked down at Jacob. “Jacob, I want my life to make an impression on others.” “Every life is an impression,” said Jacob. “What do you mean?” asked the man. And Jacob answered, “We are God’s fingerprints.” [Noah benShea, Jacob’s Journey, p. 94]

Simple story, powerful message. If you are a Christian, it means that your religion is about communicating. And it’s all about Christ’s method of dealing with us. Remember His words: You have seen me— You have seen the Father. Then He said also, As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. (John 21,21 NIV)

Wherever you are, the quality of your testimony speaks a mega story about Jesus. It may be very formal, very insular, inward-looking. But it may be telling a story of joy and hope.

So often I catch myself acting schematically. But the cracks on my face cannot be covered up for long by a “fool- them-again” mascara of pretense. Because soon they will know. “Here comes a Christian. He thinks we don’t know.”

Fingerprints of God. Aroma redolent with life. Images of God’s communicators. Wherever they are.

–Rajmund Dabrowski is RMC communication director and editor of Mountain Views.