TWO PROCESSIONS

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.  For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?  2 Corinthians 2:14-16 (ESV) 

This is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. It is so descriptive. We can see the parade passing by with our triumphant Lord Jesus Christ leading a procession of His followers. Necklaces of flowers adorn some of the heroes of the faith. Petals are tossed on the ground so the feet of the troops marching by crush them and release their aroma. There are shouts of acclaim from the bystanders and flourishes by the bands. Each contingent carries a banner identifying their unit.

At the end of the end of the ceremonial promenade are the captured enemy warriors and leaders. The end of this march will bring them to judgment – death, imprisonment, or slavery. The crushed petal waft the odor of promised death to them.

I thought of this passage of Scripture when I read of Dennis Rodman’s trip to North Korea with some other former professional basketball players from the United States. They will play an exhibition game with a North Korean baskertball team to honor the birthday of Kim Jong-Eun whom Dennis Rodman calls his “friend for life.” 

When the current dictator of North Korea, Kim Jong-Eun led the funeral procession for his father, the previous North Korean dictator, Kim Jong-Il, there were seven other men walking alongside the hearse with Kim Jong-Eun. Their position in this procession declared their power and importance. This was in December 2011.

Since that time three of these seven have lost their power and importance. U Tong-Chuk the head of State Security, and Ri Yong-Ho, a leader in the People’s Army, the Workers’ Party, and the Political Bureau were driven from power. Then several weeks ago, the most powerful man of the seven, Jang Sung-Thaek, the husband of Kim Kyoung-Hui (who is sister of the late Kim Jong-Il) along with Ri Yong-Ho and reportedly eighty others were executed. Said Kim Jong-Eun, “There is no room for two suns in the sky.”

Those of us who are following the Lord Jesus in His triumphal march to present the prizes of His conquests to the Father, do not have to fear that we will be sent to the rear of the procession, lose our position as children of God, and be damned to perdition.

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.  John 10:28-29 (ESV)