Straighten Up!
Don’t be all womper jawed or caddy wampus. Y’all ever see a house that just didn’t look right because it was actually crooked? Or maybe you have seen a building that just wasn’t straight with the world. I’m not talking about the intentional landscape fitting one, but it’s the one that is like 6° off. I’ve found that, in building a structure, it helps to get it straight and true. There are some things you can use to aid in this. Things such as a compass, square, tape measure, and level are all helpful if you know how to use ‘em. What about a plumb bob? Plum who? Well, it’s a line that hangs down through the center of a weighted object at the bottom. With the help of gravity, it shows what straight up and down looks like.
I’ve talked about a feller named Amos before. One day ole’ Amos was going about his business and God said, come here Amos, I want to show you something. And God showed Amos that he was doing some measuring. God was beside a wall—He was checking it with a plumb bob to see whether the wall leaned one way or the other. The wall represented His people Israel, and God was checking to see if they measured up spiritually and morally.
Amos tells us that Israel had been built true to plumb. Israel had been properly built; it had a strong foundation; it originally stood straight and did not lean or sag in any direction.
So why does God choose to use a plumb line at this time? Did Israel somehow get out of plumb?
Amos 7:7-8, Thus He showed me, and behold, the Lord was standing by a vertical wall with a plumb line in His hand. The LORD said to me, " What do you see, Amos?" And I said, "A plumb line." Then the Lord said, "Behold I am about to put a plumb line in the midst of My people Israel. I will spare them no longer. (nasb)
So God measured Israel to see if they are still standing true. God measures them and they have been found lacking. They no longer stood straight and strong for God. God wants His people to stand strong according to His Word.
What about the good ole USA? If you just stand and look at a people like the United States, it may look straight, but has this country been properly measured? Are we lacking?
God tells Amos in verse 8 concerning Israel, I will spare them no longer.
What about the U.S, we have allowed impurities to erode and corrupt the very foundation this country was founded on. Israel had started out straight and true, but God had measured them and they no longer stood straight. They hadn’t stayed on the trail that God had set out for them.
What about folks today? Do we love God and put Him first? Do we give Him the worthship He deserves? Do we help others in need? Do we even stop and help someone who is down?
Yet, we as Christians are to share our faith. God’s love isn’t something we bottle and put up on a shelf. We are to share it. And the more we share God’s love the more it grows. It is impossible to give away all of God’s love. Share His love and it just becomes bigger.
But what can I do? Jesus said it the best over in Luke 10:27, "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." (nasb)
So then, do we measure up? Well, I will tell you, on our own, we are just a bunch of loners and misfits – So, NO, we don’t! Only with Jesus as Lord and in charge will we ever begin to stand plumb. Jesus is our plumb line! Make every effort to straighten up and stand with Christ!
Choose Jesus, choose life and let your light shine! And find a Bible believin’ church where you “fit in” and know, grow, and follow Christ! Tell others! See y’all at church and keep PRAYIN’ for HIS HARVEST! Pray for the rain! Amen!