Love Builds Bridges

The sense of smell is one of the most powerful senses that we have.  Smells can immediately transport us mentally right back to the setting of which that certain smell was a part.  In some way, smells lodge in our subconscious as a memory to which we are drawn whenever we smell it again.

I read that smell is the most neglected sense that we have.  The writer said that 70% to 75% of what we know as the sense of taste really comes from the sense of smell.  I think I agree!  On many occasions, I have smelled someone’s cooking outside on the grill and seem almost to taste what they are cooking!

Paul wrote of Jesus, “And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” (Ephesians 5:2).  Jesus’ sacrifice of Himself ascended directly into the nostrils of God.  He experienced it in much the same way that we experience pleasant smells.

So, what made it so sweet?  God smelled the sweet scent of self-sacrifice.  Jesus was willing to suffer what He did in order to redeem all of mankind.  Jesus said, “…I lay down My life…No one takes it from Me…” (John 10:17-18).

God smelled the sweet scent of submission.  The submissive person places himself under another.  Jesus was equal to God but submissive to His will.  Though He prayed in the Garden before His arrest, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me…”, He continued “…nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42).

And, God smelled the sweet scent of salvation.  In Jesus’ act, He redeemed a lost humanity.  He built the bridge that spanned the gap between God and mankind because of sin.  Because of this act, His Father could justifiably offer salvation to anyone who was willing to be like His Son.

When we sacrifice ourselves and submit to the will of the Father, we imitate Jesus who showed us how to be right before God.  That’s why Paul wrote, “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.  And walk in love, as Christ…” (Ephesians 5:1-2).

Naomi Judd wrote a song entitled, “Love can Build a Bridge.”  It was the love of God that sent Jesus to earth and  it was the love of Jesus that built the bridge back to His Father for the people of earth.  That access had been cut when sin came into the world.  Now, love rebuilt the access bridge.  We should learn from Jesus’ example to build a bridge between ourselves and others creating an access for a connection with them. 

-Mike Johnson