#7 Of 10 Things God Can't Do

7.  God Can't Create A Loser.

II Corinthians 2:14-15 -- "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing."

image: corregidorisland.com

A thick blackness so deep and dark that I could feel it press in around me was the only thing I could see as I attempted to stifle the rising panic crawl up the back of my throat. I clutched at my flashlight so tightly my fingers hurt, but I refused to be the one who chickened out and flip the thing on - breaking the spell.  We'd been sent back in time, momentarily - as we stood there in the dark, listening for WWII bombers to strike the earth overhead. For just a fraction of a moment, I actually thought I  could hear them.

I wasn't alone, I was in a group of fellow Outdoor Education students being lead by a senior in high school. But to me - a lowly 8th grader - it felt like I was alone in the damp, dank, darkness - buried deep in the side winding branches of the Malinta Tunnel on the Island of Corregidor in the Philippines. Our unofficial tour guide finally broke the silence and flipped the switch on his flashlight. "You see?" He said, looking at the walls around him. "You can almost picture the soldiers packed wall to wall in here with General MacArthur just down the corridor a bit - waiting to give out orders."

I thought of my grandfather, a WWII Vet. I wondered if he'd ever been inside the tunnel.

image: olive-drab.com [inside the Malinta during WWII]

Breathing deeply I could smell moss, mold, iron, and that weird wet reptile odor. A group of guys ran down the tunnel ahead of us and scared a snake out from hiding - taunting it all the way to the entrance. I didn't like snakes, but I suddenly felt bad for that one.

When we reached the mouth of the Malinta I was surprised to see that it was raining. I inhaled deeply - pulling as much oxygen into my lungs as possible to clear away the stale, claustrophobic air of the old abandoned bunker. Rain never smelled so good.

I could smell green. I filled my nostrils up with the wonderful aroma of damp earth and growing things. I clung to the songs of the frogs calling out to one another as big fat rain drops plunked down on their heads. I took it all in. Every wonderful moment.

It was life. A stark contrast to the placid and oppressive atmosphere of the tunnel - life was bursting forth through the tropical jungles surrounding the island. Even a few birds dodged in and out from underneath the safe canopy of coconut palms and mango trees.

This morning when I read II Corinthians 2:14-15 my mind wandered back to our adventures on Corregidor Island. I'd never thought of the aroma of life before - but in verse 16 Paul goes on to describe just that. He says that to God, we are the aroma of life - those of us who spread the love of Christ to others. We are like life in a dying land. I thought of the life giving smell of a heavy rain and wet soil and the huge difference between the air inside the old tunnel and the air outside of it.

Suddenly the verses popped to life.

In Christ Jesus, God has given us eternal victory. Paul reminds us that we will always be triumphant through the blood of our Savior. God doesn't create losers. We are all victorious - but we have to claim that victory. We have to choose to be the aroma of life for those perishing in this spiritual war.

I wonder - and I hope - can others smell me coming?