The ManicaPost
Evangelist Peter Madondo
IMAGINE you engage a contractor to build your house and when you visit to assess progress you are met with crooked walls crooked and everything appearing to be out of place. I do not need a rocket scientist to tell me how disgusted you will feel.
Amos 7:7-8: “ This is what he showed me, the Lord was standing by a wall that had been built true to plumb with a plumb line in his hand. Verse 8: And asked me: “What do you see” Amos …..” Today, we take a journey to understand the function of a plumb line. A plumb line is defined as a cord with a weight attached used to produce a vertical line. It can be equated to the modern spirit level.
I used to wonder why all builders were so obsessed with the plumb line or spirit level. I was taken for some tutorials on the indispensable significance of the little gadget. Everyone who claims to be a professional builder should have undoubted knowledge on how to use the plumb line or spirit level.
God was standing before the nation of Israel visibly dejected by their rate of transgression and the Lord decided that it was time to measure the beloved nation’s conduct against his expectations and obviously they had failed to toll the line and register straightness and up righteousness before His sight. He said many times He had overlooked their inequity, but at this point it had reached unprecedented levels such that God would not ignore anymore.
Such times are rife in our societies today that God will say enough is enough. Despite having the 10 commandments at their disposal for reference at any given time, they turned a deaf ear and blind eye and God reached a boiling point. He acted upon any form of transgression. I do not need to remind you about the Sodom and Gommorah debacle.
Ephesians 2:20: “…And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone.” It was the norm in the ancient construction industry. The artisans would erect the cornerstone first and every other measurement to a building was determined by the cornerstone.
Likewise, Christianity derives its statutes from Jesus Christ. It is therefore essential that we leave by the oracles of Jesus. Setting a plumb line on the walls that emanates from Jesus should never cause worries because they should be straight and unblemished.
If our lives are not in line according to God’s expectations, there is need to either chisel or cut to fit to size. This is a very painful, but necessary process. Unfortunately some things that may be beneficial to our physical being may be regarded as wayward by God and hence need to chisel out. It is for this reason that Paul at one time said all that was profitable he considered it as loss … (Philippians 3:7).
There is a time in life that we must let go some of the materials things we hold on to for the sake of fitting into God’s design.
It is significant that we always reflect on our lifestyles and see whether we register on the plumb line. While our imperfections may be latent, God is going to use the plumb line that will expose all irregularities. This goes even into some colourful religious sects that claim to be working in the name of Jesus. The plumb line will not be lied to, as it will expose all the hypocrisy.
I challenge you today as I put a hem to this article that Test all the spirits, 1 John 4:1: “Beloved, believe not every, but try the spirits whether they are of God because many prophets are gone out into the world.”
It is a known fact that at one point God will restore order in His church. This is when they shall be gnashing of teeth. Matthew 7:23: “…And then I will profess to them yee that work iniquity” because someone has just uttered the word Jesus it is not an express confirmation of being a man of God.
Remember, there are abundant men of God and also a plethora of men of god. Strive to fit to the plumb line as to be acceptable before Jehovah.
