Exodus 30:8
“And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.”
One reason I love the warmth of summer is because our family loves to grill. My wife will get the meat ready to grill, my daughter will set the table, and I will get the coals hot so that I can cook the meat. It never fails that after I’m done grilling, the smell from the grill is on me. For the rest of the day, you can tell that I grilled because of the smell of smoke.
Two times a day, Aaron was to go into the holy place and make sure that the incense was burning. I can imagine every time he left the holy place and went back to the house that his wife could smell the incense on his clothing and in his hair. As he walked down the street and passed people, they could smell that he had been by the altar of incense. You had no question as to where he had been because the smell told everything.
In the Scriptures, the altar of incense is related to the prayers of God’s people. Revelation 8:4 says, “And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.” Notice, the incense was the “prayer of the saints.” There are some observations that we can take away from this altar of incense that will help us as Christians.
First, you will never keep the smell of God on you unless you spend multiple times with God every day. Aaron was to go into the holy place in the “morning” and “at even.” The smell of the incense never left Aaron, because twice a day he made sure the incense was burning. If you spend multiple times a day with God, you will never have to worry about another smell getting on you. Sadly, many Christians never get the smell of God on them because they never darken the altar of prayer one time. You will never become like God without spending time with Him in prayer.
Second, a regular prayer life helps to keep you living a holy life. Aaron never forgot who he represented because he was constantly reminded by the smell of incense on his clothing. You will find that it will be much easier to live a holy life for God if you spend multiple times every day in prayer. Every time you leave the altar of prayer, you walk away with the smell of God on you. As you walk throughout your day, that smell reminds you as to Whom you belong.
Third, others will be able to tell that you have a regular prayer life. Aaron didn’t have to tell anyone where he had been because the smell of the incense was on him. Everyone will notice a difference in you when you spend time with God. You won’t have to tell them because the smell of God’s fragrance will be in your actions and countenance. Just like the people knew Moses had been with God because of the shine on his face; likewise, people will know you have been with God because His shine and smell will be evident in everything you say and do. That smell will have a way of warding off those whom you should not be around; thus, helping you to stay away from sin.
Let me ask you, what smell do you have on you? Is the fragrance of God on your life because you have spent time in prayer? You will make the greatest impact with your life when you get God’s smell on you by spending time at the altar of prayer.