Remember That Smell

Articles

Larry Schneider
12/10/23 - Christian Living

“REMEMBER THAT SMELL!”

Many of us remember getting “mimeographed” worksheets from our teachers at school. If you were like me, you probably took a whiff on the newly “mimeographed” paper as it was passed out. Kids today do not know the joy of sniffing the worksheet or having purple all over their hands. (Only kidding) Photocopy machines have taken the place of these machines as technology has advanced. These older mimeograph machines created a stencil through which ink was forced onto paper. When you look at the word “mimeograph,” you recognize that the copies made from the stencil would actually “mimic” (look like) the stencil.

What does this have to do with Christians? The Greek word from which we get our English words “mimic” and “mimeograph” is found several times in the New Testament. God uses this word to instruct Christians. Think about the following uses of the word “mimic” in the New Testament.

1.As Christians, we must “mimic” the Lord. “Therefore, be imitators of God.” (Ephesians 6:1) “Become imitators… of the Lord.” (I Thessalonians 1:6) God is the stencil and we are the blank paper. Is His image stamped on you? When others look at you, can they see the image of God? Do they recognize the image that you bear?

2.As Christians, we must “mimic” the faithful of the past. “Imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Hebrews 6:12) These faithful imitators of the Lord are there for “our learning” and “as an example.” We must look to them and strive to duplicate their lives.

3.As Christians, we must “mimic” the faith of our leaders. Hebrews 13:7 reminds us to look back at faithful elders, deacons, preachers, and disciples and follow their examples if they have “mimicked” Christ.

4.As Christians, we must mimic good and not evil. John urged the early Christians to follow the proven character of Demetrius and not the self-centered nature of Diotrophes. (3 John 11) Does your life “mimic” what is good or what is evil?

Mimeograph technology may be a thing of the past, but as Christians we are still called upon to mimic the stencils provided to us by God and all the faithful who have gone before us.

Written by Larry Schneider