Do You "Smell" Like the Mag Mile?

I live just outside Chicago, and I've been down the famous Magnificent Mile a few times. It's a strip of North Michigan Avenue that runs from the Chicago River, northward for one mile. I remember the delightful aroma of chocolate and roasting nuts emanating from some of the stores. Ahh, how pleasant. But I also remember the very UNpleasant odor emanating from the horse manure in the street. That's because the Mag Mile is known for frequent horse carriage rides. I'm sure they're fun, but you'll have to endure the regular natural bodily functions of the horse. It's not uncommon for pedestrians to catch a whiff of the chocolate nuts and caramel corn, only to smell the horse manure simultaneously. Ugh! Talk about an appetite suppressant. 

That reminds me of one sobering truth: All too often, we Christians tend to give off mixed scents to those around us, be it our coworkers, classmates, neighbors, or the like. They may "smell" the scent of a Christian for one moment, but then pick up on some unsettling "stench" a little while later. When they're near us, they might take notice of some good work ethics, generosity, compassion, and patience for a while, but then later, they'll spot some rudeness, gossip, profanity, bitterness, or self-righteousness, just to name a few. The bad odor always ruins the good aroma. So, let's ask God for the willingness and determination to spot those "mixed scents" we tend to give off. Although we won't be faultless until we enter Heaven, we must still strive to be "single-scented" Christians in the here and now. Those around us may know that we claim to be Christian, but they know all too well that talk is cheap, and they can spot a phony from a country mile. If our actions and attitudes don't line up with our talk, then we give off the super-tragic unintentional vibe, "Christians are fake, so perhaps Christianity is fake too." Although that is no excuse for rejection of the Gospel, we must not let our mixed scents give them any perceived excuse thereof. 

Notice the crystal clear, sharp dichotomy between the foul odors and the good scents (called the fruit of the Spirit). 

"Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:19-23, ESV)