Stinks to high heaven

“The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood.” Genesis 8:21

When anyone uses the phrase “stinks to high heaven”, they’re saying something has such an offensive odor, it’s powerful enough to rise to the sky. This term is also used to refer to corruption and fraudulent activities.

I was raised on a turkey farm and daily daddy would walk through the turkey houses to remove any dead birds. These animals were then incinerated to combat diseases.

The smell coming from the incinerator was awful to me but when God’s people placed an offering on the altar, God found the smell pleasant. This demonstrated obedience. In the Old Testament, God required an unblemished animal to be sacrificed as a burnt offering to atone for their sins.

Today we no longer have to perform the legalistic practices of the Old Testament because God sent Jesus to atone for our sins. The perfect living sacrifice was given to everyone that believes and He’s now the intercessor going to the Father on our behalf.

We are called to live a life pleasing to God. Ephesians 5:2 says, “and live a life of love, just as Christ loved and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Jesus was the example we are to follow. Although I fall short, I long to please the Lord in all I say and do, always being a sweet aroma pleasing the Lord.