Smells Like Death

There’s a plant that comes from the island of Sumatra known as the Titan Arum. It’s a large, unbranched plant that produces a large, single leaf every 4 months or so. It’s a unique plant with a tuber that can weigh up to 200lbs. During the constant cycle of leafing, the Titan Arum can grow up 9’ tall before it starts to bloom. The process itself can take up to 10 years before the plant is ready to flower. However, the flower only lasts for a few days before it shrivels up again and the process starts over. If you’ve taken a trip to a botanical garden, you may have seen it. Or better yet, you probably smelled it. It’s because the Titan Arum is known by another name, the corpse flower. It’s gotten this name because of the powerful odor that comes off the plant that smells of death and decay. Though it turns away many people, animals and insects, it also draws to it pollinators that thrive on that particular smell. People from all over the world travel to take in the sight and smell of this one of a kind plant. 
The lifecycle and outward appearance of the corpse plant; and yes, even its smell, can reveal something truly remarkable about the God we serve. Not all growth is seen. Not all smells are appealing. Not all growth is the kind that God desires. Outward beauty or impressive knowledge can mean very little if our lives give off the stench of pride or self-focus. Growing those areas of our humanity will only increase the odor that will attract other pollinators who thrive on it. Who will lead us down difficult paths and maybe even a few bumpy roads. However, true spiritual growth isn’t about how we appear to the outside world. True growth is about what’s happening on the inside of us each day. As people saved by grace, we’ve been given the gift of the Holy Spirit who is at work inside of us. We may not see the transformation all the time, but it’s there working under the surface. The gospel writer, Mark, recorded Jesus speaking this parable saying this is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain - first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come (Mark 4:26-29 NIV).
Our growth, like the corpse flower, will take time and often happen beneath the surface where it’s unseen. Our job as disciples is to work with the Spirit that is already at work inside of us. To allow the work to move through us. It may take a year or a lifetime. You may be stuck in a leafing cycle waiting for the flower to be ready to bloom. Transformation will take time. But, don’t worry, when the grace of God takes root, the result will not smell of death. The aroma of our Spirit and life inside of you will be one of life that comes from Jesus Christ. When we follow God’s plan and submit to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we will radiate the fragrance and image of Christ. Embrace the pace of growth this week because he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6 NIV).

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