January 16 - Standards

No video or exercise today, as it is Sunday. This 5 day week is going to feel like 10.

Amos 7 (7: 7-9)

7 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. 8 And the Lord asked me, "What do you see, Amos?" "A plumb line, I replied. Then the Lord said, "Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel; I will spare them no longer. 9 "The high places of Isaac will be destroyed and the sanctuaries of Israel will be ruined; with my sword I will rise against the house of Jeroboam."

I first learned what the phrase "plumb line" meant at the age of 24 when my father-in-law helped me put up our privacy fence. I had seen a plumb line be used before growing up, but never knew the terminology used for it. Here is dictionary.com's definition of plumb line:

Plumb line - a cord with a lead bob attached to one end, used to determine perpendicularity, the depth of water, etc.


The plumb line in our case was used to check the line and level of the privacy fence we were installing. I am sure my father-in-law has used a plumb line on more than one occasion since he builds decks. Without using the plumb line, we may have been able to set our fence correctly and level in all forms: both vertically and horizontally, but I honestly doubt that judging with the untrained eye we would be able to do so. Amazingly, we used a technique that had been around since at least 800 B.C. 


In Amos, God's standard for the people of Israel is representative of the plumb line. He clearly showed the illustration of the plumb line used on a wall built in the city, but shows the truth and relevance by saying he would set a plumb line among His people. God would bring destruction upon Israel later on, but the important message we find here is that God has a set standard for His people. This standard goes for Adam and Eve, the people of Israel, Jonah, people in the wild west, and us in modern day time. The crazy thing is this: God's standard never changes.


Just because our times and culture changes, doesn't mean God changes with it. My wife and I were in discussion today and it was brought up that some teenagers who claim to be Christians are drinking, being sexually active, doing drugs, going behind their parent's backs, smoking, etc...all the while having a guiltless conscience. Something is wrong with that picture. 


I can remember when I first saw a pornographic image growing up. The guilt that came from that almost ate me alive. I knew I had done wrong and had gone against everything I had been taught growing up. It was a totally different world I had stepped into and the guilt gnawed at me. The standard that God had set for me had not been met. I fell short. I have fallen short many times in many different areas of my life. 


The difference is the intentions of our culture. The problem is not the mind-set of our society, but the heart-set. Guilt for doing wrong against God is not something these teenagers or other people experience. Guilt for getting caught and suffering the punishment of a parent or police officer is more ideal. If we claim to be Christians and truly experience the relationship with God, there will be guilt. 


God's standard is high. His standard is perfection. Nobody walking this earth can meet that standard. There's not a preacher, monk, or nun that can even come close. The only One who was perfect was sacrificed for our imperfections. God can destroy lives to provide hope and understanding of the purpose of His high standard and love.


Choices made daily can better or destroy life..