“…a fragrance from life to life.” 2 Corinthians 2:16
When first hearing that the meaning of Smyrna is myrrh, it was one of those details that God was telling me to look at carefully. The ancient port city of Smyrna, a Greek name, became Izmir, a Turkish name, around 1930. Interesting that it still has the same ‘myrrh’ sounding syllable. We know that myrrh comes from a plant whose resin hardens and was used as a medicine, a spice, for embalming, and most of all as a perfume. In Exodus 30:23, liquid myrrh is a main ingredient in the sacred anointing oil used to make holy the priests, tabernacle, altars, the ark of the covenant, and everything consecrated to the service of God. It was a powerful sweet aroma to the LORD.
In the New Testament, we read of the gift of myrrh brought by the Magi to celebrate His royal birth, Matthew 2:11. Of the three gifts, while it was very valuable, it also pointed to Jesus’ sacrificial death. At the crucifixion, He refused the wine mixed with myrrh. After His death, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus brought a 75 pound mixture of myrrh and aloe with which to embalm Jesus’ body before laying Him in the tomb. (John 19:38-42)
Then in this proclamation by the LORD Jesus about the church in Smyrna, we see that these brothers and sisters of ours were a sweet perfume to God. In the poverty and bitter suffering endured, they had a faithful testimony. That faithful testimony was like the perfume of myrrh arising in worship.
Perhaps we should consider how we also endure difficulty, trials, and temptations. Could how we respond be a sweet perfume to our Lord? When everything seems hopeless, full of pain, persecution, and confusion, if we trust and wait, God will receive it as a fragrance of worship. It has been my blessing to see this in the lives of many friends who endured much and were a fragrance of worship in the midst of suffering.
“For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death. To the other a fragrance from life to life.” 2 Corinthians 2:15-16
Reflection:
What would it look like to be ‘myrrh’ the sweet perfume to God in the midst of trial?
If we respond for His glory, how could that bring ‘life’ to those who do not know Him?
Francie Overstreet
EFCC Member