I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line. (Isaiah 28:17)
In the world of construction, especially with painters and carpenters, plumb lines are used to make sure their work is straight. It is hard to determine with the naked eye what is called a true vertical or horizontal line without some kind of measuring tool – to wit, the plumb line. Employed throughout the construction process, it ensures that the work will not be out of line or “crooked” when the job is done.
The term plumb line is used in a variety of different contexts throughout Scripture. For our word of encouragement today, let’s look at it with the positive anticipation of knowing when Jesus returns and consummates His kingdom, there will no longer be anything out of line or “crooked” in the sight of our Lord, and that includes you and me.
I know it is hard to imagine the perfection of the coming kingdom of God when we live in such an imperfect world. Everything in the world is crooked (stained by sin). But our Lord has promised a day when crookedness will be no more. When Jesus returns, He will put every enemy under His feet and there will be no more sin, Satan, and death. In a word, there will be no more crookedness. In the book of Amos, the Lord told the prophet that he was setting a plumb line of judgment (Amos 7:7-8), among His people to end their attempts of justifying their crooked ways.
The Lord’s plumb line is His Moral Law and because the Lord never changes, the Moral Law never changes. We don’t have to wonder what our Lord expects of us, yesterday, today, or tomorrow. When we line up our lives with the Lord’s plumb line, we can know for certain that our lives are being built upon a correct foundation, not a crooked one. This is the mark of the mature Christian, who lives according to the Lord’s plumb line, rather than his own. And don’t forget this: when you miss the mark (and sin), and you realize your life has come out of “plumb,” you have a Lord who is faithful to forgive.
So, are you living according to the Lord plumb line in your life right now? Is there any place that is a bit out of line with the Lord’s plumb line? What changes do you need to make? What will it cost you if you don’t? Keep Jesus first in your life and you can know for sure you are living in line with the Lord’s plumb line.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
