"In whose [God's] hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind." Job 12:10.
Many think of the nose merely as a means of breathing and smelling, or as a nuisance at times. But it is much more than that. As one of the world's best air-conditioners, it was an extremely important provision of God when He created man.
What is it that my nose knows? Among other things, it knows how to filter air, how to tell the difference between good and bad food, how to add moisture to dry air, how to make cold air warm, how to bring back memories, and how to make your voice sound good or bad. It knows many more things, too, that we do not have room to write down.
First, your nose filters all the air you breathe, doing this in two ways—by hairs in the nostrils catching impurities, and by sticky mucus secreted from tiny sinus tubes above it. The mucus, controlled by tiny "brooms" that sweep it into position, keeps the impurities from entering your lungs.
How does it know good food and bad food? By sensitive little bulbs that pick up the slightest odor. When something smells spoiled or sour, your nose sends a message to the brain which immediately tells you not to eat it. This is another safeguard the Creator has provided.
Why should moisture be added to dry air? Because your lungs and throat require controlled amounts of it. This, too, is supplied by the nose with just the right amount added to each breath. By the same token, cold air is also harmful to your tissues, and the Creator has placed automatic "warming ovens" at the top of each nostril. These are flat pieces of bone about the size of a postage stamp which warm the cold air before it is passed on.
What does your nose have to do with memories? The pleasant odors it detects often make us think of an event that took place long ago, just as an unpleasant smell will bring a not-so-welcome memory.
Finally, your nose has much to do with your voice, for as you speak, much of the tone passes through it. We become aware of this when thee. nose is stopped up with a cold and our speech and singing sound strange to others, as well as to ourselves.
The nose was given an important part when the Lord God formed man and "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life." Gen. 2:77And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7). This was not done to any other creature, and it is another example of God's special interest in us. He provided us a life not only for this world, but for eternity, and has assured us that our eternity will be in heaven if we accept His• Son, the Lord Jesus, as our Savior. But the Bible faithfully tells us to do this right now, saying, "Behold, now is the accepted time, behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2). If you have not yet done this, do it right now! Tomorrow may be too late.