PERFUME BOTTLES          

10/14/01

  Today I saw a picture of the U.S. Capitol building in a gif someone had created.  It was a gorgeous composition.  But, what struck me as I looked at it was something I had never noticed before.  Perhaps it was just the angle from which it was being viewed.  But, looking at it, I was stunned to see how much the top resembled a beautiful cut glass perfume bottle!  As I looked at it, I felt a distinct impression that it held the prayers of the saints, for it represented our nation.  I sensed the Lord had a message in this, so I asked Him, “Okay, Lord, what is it?” 

  The first and obvious thing to me was that the whole purpose of perfume was to smell good.  The Lord quickly reminded me of this scripture:

  Prov 27:9

Ointment and perfume delight the heart, and the sweetness of a man's friend gives delight by hearty counsel.  (NKJ)  (Have we not been a friend to many?)

  After that, I did a word search…  

Phil 4:18

    But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.  (KJV)

2 Cor 2:14-16

Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.  For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?  (KJV)

  In the NAS it reads this way:

2 Cor 2:14-16

      But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.   For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;  to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?  (NAS)

  Rev 5:8

        And when He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. (NAS)

Rev 8:3-4

        And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.  And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.  (KJV)

           Is it a coincidence that  the architectural design of the U.S. Capitol building is similar to that of a fine bottle of perfume?  I think not.  Exquisite perfume bottles are meant to be shown off.  They are usually put on display.  They invite themselves to be filled with perfume, then sampled and shared.  So, too, it is with our Capitol building!  It is put on full display to the world.  And, just like the prayers of the saints, and the acts of kindness and sacrifices made by them, are likened to perfume in the nostrils of God, so too is righteous government!  Yes, American leadership has made its mistakes, but we have also had leaders in many sectors who have been and who are that "sweet smelling savour."  The hearts of the American people have been a telling factor in many of our elections.  Likewise, our prayers for these officials have also been a deciding factor in many of their lives.  Make no mistake, there have been many prayers and prayer meetings right in the halls of our great government, whether you were aware of them, or not.

            For as we pray for our government officials, as well as our religious leaders, we are filling that "perfume bottle" up with perfume.  As we pray, we shape and even change the course of events not only in our nation, but also those of the world. Even our President himself acknowledges the power of prayer having confessed that when "he stays on his knees, he is strongest."  So then, there is an added sweetness in the perfume pouring out of our capitol building that had perhaps been absent in other times.  And, because of that perfume, both God and the world are taking notice!  You see, we have a memorial that is coming up before God just like Cornelius did.  Let’s take a look at it.  

Acts 10:4    “And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.” (KJV) 

  Cornelius was not a saved man, but he was a good man who was seeking God and who gave alms to the poor.  America has given more "alms" than any nation on earth!  Will her good works save her?  No.  However, now that she IS seeking God again and crying out to Him, she does have His undivided attention.  She has given much.  And much has been done in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Irregardless of our position today, the foundation of our country is built on Christ. (Not, may I add, Mohammed, Budda, Hare Krishna, or any other "Johnny come lately" who has surfaced and wants an equal place in our society.)

            Based on our wonderful and fair constitution, we give others the right to practice their own religious beliefs.   But this legal fact does not make these other religions to be truth, nor are they a part of our foundation, only a part of our modern day fabric- be that good or be that bad.  It is the same freedom that God originally gave to Adam and Eve: the right to choose.  Even if they chose contrary to His desire for them, He still gave them that right.  And because we as a Christian nation strove to model those precepts, our founding Fathers built those same principles into our constitution.  That does not mean that we should lay back and not actively pursue Holiness and truth.  And that truth, by the way, is to be based on what God says is truth, not some "relativity philosophy" that declares truth is like a chameleon, changing to fit its surroundings.  NO!  God's truth, when applied to our lives, causes us and our surroundings to change and be conformed to it, not vica-versa.  But back to the perfume bottle.....

            That perfume is an odor, if you will. That is where 2Cor. 2:14-16 comes in.  To those who pursue deception and destruction, we are the scent of death to them, because we hold up a righteous standard before them.  To those who pursue right things, we reek of LIFE and all that GOD intended for life to be.  Why?  Because, to the best that we know how, the Body of Christ is modeling Christ to the world.  Christ is love, and love has an odor to it.  It smells good!

  For as the Lord spoke to His servant Moses, He is speaking similarly to America:

Exod 30:34-37

          “And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight:  And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy:   And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy.  And as for the perfume which thou shalt make, ye shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it shall be unto thee holy for the LORD.”  (KJV)

          The perfume of America is not for ourselves, America.  God says we are Holy unto Him, and He is jealous over us.  He will not have us take the perfume of our great land and squander it on the profane.  Recognize, America, you are destined for greatness, but only as you keep your eyes upon the One who called you forth.  Never forget that the perfume of this land is first and foremost a gift from Him to be given back to Him.  But even in the giving , the perfume lingers on the hands of those who give it! 

          The stopper is about to be pulled out from the bottle.  And all the prayers of the saints, all the good deeds, all that is "right with America" will be poured out in this world.  We have forgotten, perhaps, the mighty moves of God in our past.  We have forgotten all the aid given abroad, the missionaries sent, the lives given both in presenting the gospel and in defending freedom, not only ours but that of the civilized world.  We have forgotten the men and women who have plowed in prayer and sown in tears over this great land of ours. We may have forgotten, but God has not forgotten! Perhaps we have felt that our prayers are puny and wondered if they are making a difference.  But, I tell you, the perfume bottle is about to be opened!  And just like we are foretold in Revelation, when the prayers are put into the golden censor and the incense of them is cast upon the earth, things happen! 

Rev 8:5          And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. (KJV)

            There has been a myriad of prayers for America, both here and abroad, from the time of its inception to the present.  Just because some of those who have prayed are dead, does not mean that their prayers died with them!  On the contrary, those prayers are still reverberating through Heaven and ours are being added to them.  Do not lose heart.  God is not hesitating.  He is very much at work on our behalf.  Therefore, we need to be at work on His behalf!  "How can we do that?", you ask.  "What can we do?"  We can keep praying!  Keep believing!  Don't stop witnessing of His goodness or His plan for mankind to be saved. Keep presenting Jesus to everyone you meet, whether in word or deed.

  2 Cor 4:6-7          For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.  (KJV)

  Matt 5:16   Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.  (KJV)

            Please know that America wasn't just a "good idea" that our forefathers had.  She was God's idea.  And she STILL is His idea.  So throw yourself in with Him.  Proclaim her as His idea.  Call her back to Him in your prayers.  Repentance has a sweet fragrance all its own!  Speak life over her and not death.  And, expect to smell that sweet smelling savour of our prayers being unleashed and poured out in visible, tangible ways as America once again steps forth as a leader of righteousness.  Many may not know what they are really saying when they say, "God Bless America."  But God knows to the FULLEST extent what those words REALLY mean, and HOW HE intends on answering those prayers.  Anticipate the perfume of a restored America!  For did not God say that if we would put the perfume before the testimony of the congregation, HE would meet with us there?  Let's not keep Him waiting!

Love and Blessings To You,
Nancy