2010 – July 11 – Toeing the Line

Study from God’s Word… 2Kings 20: 21, 21: 1 [2Chron 32: 33, 33: 1]; 2Kgs 21: 16; 2Kgs 21: 10 - 15 … Passage for Reflection: 2nd Kings 21: 12 – 13 … NIV 12 Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I am going to bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle. 13 I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria and the plumb line used against the house of Ahab. I will wipe out Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down.

My Journal for Today: “Out of plumb;” … now there’s a concept worthy of attention. As Dr. LaGard Smith teaches today, a “plumb line” is used to keep the walls straight when a house is being built. To ignore “plumb” will bring about crooked walls; and the whole house can ultimately crumble and fall. And that’s exactly what happened when Manasseh took over as King at the age of twelve from his father Hezekiah, who had used the word of God as his “plumb” in rebuilding the House of David and God’s Kingdom in Judah. But Manasseh ignored the “plumb line” of God’s expressed word, i.e., His commands; and he allowed Judah to return to pagan practices.

And my reader friends, if we cannot see the parallels between what happened to Israel and Judah in the times of Manasseh and what may happen to America from these times, we too are ignoring the “plumb lines” God has set up for His New Covenant peoples. In Jesus Christ, and the writing of the New Testament to document The Christ, God has established the ultimate “plumb line,” which we, God’s people, His Church, are to follow. And if we cannot – or do not – draw our personal lines or collectively, our nation’s lines, by the “plumb” of God’s word, we, as individuals and as a nation, are going to experience some correction to the “plumb line” God desires us to use in building our individual lives as well as how our elected leaders construct our nation’s house.

God had to make a correction for the sloppy ways of faith which Manasseh allowed God’s people to deviate from His “plumb” of truth; and somehow, someway, and in sometime (maybe soon) God is going to allow those who mock His truth and deviate from the “plumb” of God’s word to be drawn into His corrective action – whatever form that will take. God has been exceedingly patient with this nation of His people. But this country, which once was a nation, UNDER GOD, has deviated severely from God’s “plumb” of truth in His word. And unless, our leaders, which we have elected to lead us, pull us back to the straight and narrow line, which is God’s “plumb,” the walls of this nation are going to come crumbling down. And when this happens – and it likely will – I can only pray that God will be merciful on the remnant of believers who are doing all they can in their individual lives to live according to the “plumb” of God’s truth.

If you read ahead in Scripture, as I’m sure I will be doing in days to come under Dr. Smith’s teaching, you’ll see that God did protect His remnant, even though Babylon came down as the hammer God use to bring God’s way – His “plumb” – back to the attention of God’s people. And God did restore His temple and His ways – at least for a while - allowing for men of God, like Nehemiah and Ezra, to rebuild His temple and to lead the people back to God’s ways – to the “plumb” of truth.

However, we will see what happens in today’s times, where the “plumb” of God’s word is being mocked and ignored. Something is going to have to happen to show those in control that our nation must return to the truths upon which it was founded. But in the meantime, other than do all I can, as one Christian in a nation gone way out of line, I’m going to have to stay true personally to God’s “plumb,” and keep my own life on His straight and narrow line. And then, whenever and however I can, I need to make God’s ways known to others … much as I’m trying to do by writing these journal entries. Because at least those who are the remnant of the “plumb” of truth will be protected by a loving God Who honors those who follow His ways – God’s “plumb” of life.

My Prayer for Today: Lord, I know that Your “plumb” of truth is found in Your word; and I use that as my “plumb” of life. Help me to say true to Your “plumb;” and to lead others to do what they can to stay on the straight and narrow line You have drawn for us. Amen