The Plumb-line: Not Subject to Opinions

On Ridgeview News yesterday, I ask the question “Who or What is the Objective Moral Standard?” Again today I’m in the book of Amos reading the last three chapters of prophetic news from the Lord given to Amos. The book is divided into three sections, the first of which is the Divine Judgement on the Nations. The second section is three sermons preached by Amos, a no nonsense fella who was for certain a straight shooter, including calling the women of the day a bunch of cows. No doubt the women’s committee were up in arms with gums a flappin’! Not really, these were godless women who probably could have cared less about Amos’ opinion, but he gave it any way.

The final section is made up of visions of Judgement and Restoration for Israel. Pretty hairy times.

All of the prophetic scripture that I have been reading lately have taken my mind to the state of our world, and more importantly the state of my people.

My people

Who does that include? First and foremost my family, husband, children, grandchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends etc. I have but one Uncle living so of course he’s in there too. I have lived with my Mother’s testimony, so for her, I worry not. Also included in my “people” is my community. There is nobody in my community that I want to see go to Hell. I want them all in Heaven! That way they’ll know I was right about a lot of stuff. (Just kidding!) That will be the furthest thing from our minds when we are home with the Lord.

The final three chapters are the Plagues, the Priests and the Promises.

Twice Amos prays Israel out of trouble. God sends him a vision of locusts that were to be sent to destroy Israels crops. Amos prays and intercedes and the plague is stopped.

A second vision was a destructive fire that threatens Israel, but again, Amos prays and the fire is stopped.

A third vision, which is the one I got stuck in my head today, was that of a plumb-line. It fell right in line with my question yesterday, of who “sets the standard?” A plum line is a non-magnetic heavy piece of metal that when dropped with a line attached gives a perfect line in construction that shows if blocks, etc are perfectly vertically aligned. The plumb line was given to measure the nation’s spiritual state and a judgement was given. Amos did not pray that the judgement wouldn’t come. He must have known that God had simply had enough.

If God sent a plumb line to determine if the United States of America lined up with the word of God, do you think it would? I don’t possibly see how. So, let’s send a plumb line to West Virginia, how would it do? Probably better, but by no means a godly standard. Let’s bring it on down to locally. Calhoun County… Grantsville (enter your community here). How would it align with the word of God?

If I take an honest look at my own community it’s pretty far off. It’s Sunday morning, how many people are in church this morning? Including myself, although I’m staying with my Mother, and she and I would both rather be in church. But God’s house is not a priority for the vast majority of my “people”, and I know that it is in the straightened string of the plumb-line. God expects His people to honor Him with their presence in His house.

Every second of every day, Monday through Sunday falls into the scrutiny of that plumb-line. How you conduct yourself with your family, friends, job, etc. How you treat people, what is your ministry. If you’re a child of God, you have a ministry and will stand accountable for it.

I hear so very, very many people say they know God, but their mouth, their actions and their commitment to God are no where close the straightened plumb line. They’re everywhere!

I discovered a “Corruption perceptions Index” that ranks the countries of the world for their corruption levels. The United States is at 64 on a scale of 0-100. Which only serves to scare the bajeebers out of me regarding the countries higher than us, knowing how corrupt ours is.

in the second section of the last three chapters, Amos rebukes a false priest. If you attend a bible preaching, God fearing, judgement believing church, you should love on your Pastor! That’s not the case in every church in America. There’s not very many straight shooting preachers that will tell you the truth because people don’t want it.

God gives Amos one more vision of a basket of rotten fruit. Israel’s sin has ripened to the point of no return, bringing God’s judgment. I don’t think it’s a far stretch to say we have some bad apples in our basket.

Amos ends with God’s promise of the restoration of Israel. Which brings us to the church having been raptured out, and the beginning of the tribulation which is when God will once again have His focus on Israel. It’s a heavy thought… but loving people is heavy work. You okay? Let me know if I can pray for you today.