Timeless Truths: Crooked Walls Hate Plumb Lines
#25. Timeless Truths: Crooked Walls Hate Plumb Lines
July 7, 2016
Scripture quotations in this post are from "The Good News Bible," American Bible Society, 1976
There once was a wall made of cement blocks. It was a very proud wall and used to boast of its magnificence to the shrubs and trees that were landscaped around it. One day some men came to inspect the property the wall was on to see if it would be suitable for their purposes. As the men discussed the property, one of them made reference to the solid-looking wall and its ideal location on the property.
The wall swelled with importance. Already these men had recognized the beauty and strength of his block work. His very presence would insure the property of being used by the men.
However, another of the men removed a strange-looking object from his pocket and walked up to the wall. Holding the string against the topmost block, he allowed a lead weight to dangle alongside the wall. The plumb line confirmed what he had suspected. The wall was nearly three inches out of plumb, and there was a big sag in the middle.
Plans were made to demolish the useless structure. As the bulldozer pushed against the block structure, the wall cried out to the plants that had been its neighbors, "They're wrong! They're wrong! Oh, how I hate that plumb line!"
Sometimes, as Christians, we become like the wall. Compared to the bent shape of the oak trees and various shrubs that surround us, we look pretty straight, pretty impressive. It's along about then that God comes along with His plumb line and we are shown in our real state, complete with lumps, and curves, and crookedness. We can come to hate the plumb line, blaming it for our problems, our circumstances, and our frustrations.
To avoid misinterpreting the function of God's plumb line, we need the answers to three questions: What exactly is the plumb line that God uses? What can that plumb line do for us and what can it not do? Should we blame the plumb line or how should we react to being examined?
After the division of Israel, Amos, the prophet, was given the plumb line illustration to use for the Israelites of the wicked Northern Kingdom. He was instructed to show them that they were out of line with God. Jesus used similar reasoning with the scribes and Pharisees as He told them of their hypocrisy and self-righteousness. Both Amos and Christ used the Law of God as their plumb line. And both the Old Testament Israelites and the Religious leaders of Christ's day squirmed when given the close scrutiny of true righteousness by God's Law.
Today, in the time of the New Covenant, the Law is the entire Word of God. It is the standard that should always be used to measure the straightness of our lives. A plumb line cannot make a wall straight. A plumb line can only point out the crookedness of the wall.
Someone must make the necessary corrections. Likewise, the Word of God cannot change anyone; God's Law only shows us our sins. We must make the necessary corrections.
God's Word is very specific as to this point. "What then was the purpose of the Law? It was added in order to show what wrongdoing is [not to correct the wrongdoings for us]." [Galatians 3:19]
Our reactions to each inspection by the Lord are the keys to a successful Christian life. We cannot compare ourselves to those around us. Neither can we consider ourselves "straight" simply because we are not as crooked as the trees and shrubs with whom we work and live as the wall did. We cannot begin to hate the plumb line for showing us our areas of weakness and neglect. If we allow ourselves to hate the Law, we eventually come to hate the Author of the Law as well.
We must allow God, through the Holy Spirit, to convict us of our faults. Then we must ask Him to work His miracles in our lives. With His help, we can correct those improper areas.
"So then my brothers," Paul writes in Romans 8:12-13. "We have an obligation, but it is not to live as our human nature wants us to [as a crooked wall]. For if you live according to your human nature, you are going to die [since you will hate the plumb line and its Designer]; but if by the Spirit you put to death your sinful actions [accepting God's plumb line], you will live [since your life will conform to God's Word]."
- Grant God permission to us His plumb line on the walls of your life.
- Determine to change when He confronts you with the tilts and sags He uncovers in it.
Crooked walls hate plumb lines, but. . .
...concerned Christians welcome them!
Next Thursday's Timeless Truths Series: Ideal Family or Idol Family?
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