Plumb Lines
Plumb Lines
Today there is commotion all around with the neighbors cutting down trees, and workmen working on the house. The noise and busyness are all around. Sipping my coffee, I drift off thinking about what makes really good carpenters. It is their precision. They “true up” every aspect of their work. Their tool: a plumb line. Regardless of where in a project they nail the string, they allow the weight (plumb) to hang. It provides the exact line to measure against or use as a baseline when considering decisions and actions. It’s called “true” or “trueing up.” Straight up and down, perpendicular. It will give you exact, precise, clear lines with which to build.
Today builders and surveyors use lasers – light for their plumb line.
“Trueing up” in building works the same in life. Jesus is the light of the world that is true and solid.
What is the “plumb line” we use to build for our lives? Do we base our decisions on circumstances, what feels good, what others think, social pressure, hmm…the list could go on and on but none of those things can ring true like a plumb line because they frequently change.
With a plumb line, it doesn’t matter where you stand, what room you are in if the house is sitting square on its foundation, or tilted like the tower of Pisa. You hang the plumb line and it will show you straight up and down, perpendicular from the sky to the center of the earth.
That line never changes. EVER!
Regardless of where you place the line you know, it will be true. The instrument has been used since the time of ancient Egypt to ensure that constructions are “plumb” or vertical.
What is our “plumb line” that is constant and never changing? What is solid, unwavering, steadfast, sure, and true? What is in our lives that we can measure against to test our decisions and actions? When the “plumb line” is constant we can adjust based on what is true not on circumstance or emotion.
For me, I have found that the whole counsel of God, the 66 books of the Bible, is the perfected plumb line for my life. His Word filled with His love, promises, directives for all of my life providing hope, wisdom, and strength. From beginning to end the Bible is reliable, unfailing, unwavering, faithful and true.
God shows us in the Psalms that His Plans for us were established long before we were in our mother’s womb. God’s word is to and for each of us whether we believe in Him or accept His love or not.
It is a plumb line.
Listen to what David said:
“For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.”
Psalm 139: 13-16 English Standard Version (ESV)
God created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. He created all life with perfection and purpose. He gave us the way to fulfill His flawless purpose and plan for our lives. We have God’s reflection in Jesus, His Son, the Holy Spirit with all three a part of the triune Godhead shown to us from Genesis all the way to Revelation. We have the pronouncements of God’s plan, His love, Jesus’ arrival, His purpose, Jesus’ plan to teach and guide with His life, death, resurrection, with the Holy Spirit woven through the entire Bible.
We have God’s character, His love, grace, mercy, precepts, and principles to use as our plumb line. We can have an unchanging, solid plumb line with which to examine, gauge, and adjust our thoughts, emotions, and actions.
Our plumb line gives us the roadmap to navigate our course helping us to stay focused on “True North”; God our Father.
With His Word buried in our hearts, we find peace in the midst of turmoil. We can treasure joy in the center of life with all of its successes, failures, strengths, weaknesses, loves, and losses.
In reading God’s Word and meditating on it, we identify He has a plan, purpose, and resources for every circumstance that we will encounter. It doesn’t matter if Satan is the author of the situation. But we must read His Word to know.
In Genesis Joseph told his brothers:
“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”
Genesis 50:20 English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul carries the same principle and message in his words to us:
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28 English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah explained to the people then and even us today: though God did not remove the consequence for ignoring His commands, God had and still has a plan for our welfare and not for evil. To give us a future and hope.
Jeremiah tells us:
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord …”
Jeremiah 29:11-13 English Standard Version (ESV)
Today are you willing to consider allowing God’s Word to be your plumb line?
