I have cleaned houses for years.  One of the most interesting experiences was the time I was hired to clean up the mess left behind by a foster child.  This precious child had gone to his bedroom and made a mess of his feces.  This same bedroom was going to be used as a guest room, and the family was desperate to get it cleaned.

I came and scrubbed everything I could think of—the wall, the bed, and the floor.  I vacuumed.  I shampooed.  We hoped for the best, and I left.

Later when I came back, the smell had not gone away.  Frankly, it smelled like a barn, and we weren’t sure that the guests wanted to stay in a barn. 

It took a while for us to realize the source of the smell.  This child had not only decorated around the bed, but he had thrown this all around the room.  Part of it had landed on the light fixture near the ceiling.  When we had turned on the light in this room, the heat of the lights acted like a potpourri lamp! 

Once we discovered the problem, we were able to finish cleaning and sanitizing the room. 

Even smells that seem hidden have a way of coming to the surface!

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.  But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.  Ephesians 5:2-4

I read about customer service representatives who were interviewed.  These representatives made their living by working from home, trying to solve problems for companies.  The interviewers found that customer service reps were mistreated, cursed by unhappy customers, and abused by their superiors.  These customer service workers many times felt trapped because they needed these jobs where they were the scapegoats of unhappy customers. 

One woman told about fielding calls for someone who was very angry and abusive.  The book the customer had bought?  A Bible! 

That was a stench in the customer service rep’s nostrils, and I’m afraid, also in God’s.

I want my life to be a sweetsmelling savour, an offering and sacrifice to God.  I don’t want the nice outside to be hiding uncleanness.  I want to have the beautiful aroma of the presence of God!

Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.  Be not ye therefore partakers with them.  For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord:  walk as children of light:  Ephesians 5:6-8

When He shall come with trumpet sound
Oh may I then in Him be found

Dressed in His righteousness alone

Faultless to stand before the throne

-Edward Mote 1834