Plumb line

7 Then he showed me another vision. I saw the Lord standing beside a wall that had been built using a plumb line. He was using a plumb line to see if it was still straight. And the Lord said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” I answered, “A plumb line.” 8 And the Lord replied, “I will test my people with this plumb line. I will no longer ignore all their sins.
Amos 7:7-8 (NLT )

This morning whilst reading about the prophet Amos, God highlighted this word to me; plumb line. God showed Amos a series of visions of His judgement on the people of Israel and the plumb line was one of the vision Amos saw. God told Amos He will use the plumb line to show that the Israelites were out of line. God revealed to me that we also have the plumb line as our measurement for how we do the life He has given us.

Over the years, I have looked at people and thought that if I did this or if I became that, then I will be successful. Or if I could reach a certain level in my life then that will be it. God brought to my attention the true measurement of a successful life. In hindsight, I now understand why no matter how high I climb the career ladder, there is always something I think I still need to do to be successful. So now, I have had to ask myself the questions God wants me to ask you. What standard are you doing this life against? How do you measure your success? Who is the final approver and who is driving your ship?

Many plans are in a man’s mind, but it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand.
Proverbs 19:21 (AMPC)

Like myself, do you look at people around you doing really well and think that is success or if you could get to a certain level in life then that will be it? Alternatively are you looking at someone struggling around you or who seem to be below you in your life level and saying to yourself, “I’m not all that bad”.

14 For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
Matthew 25:14-15 (ESV)

The lessons from the parable of the talents tells us that, God gives each and every one of us our roles according to our ability. Therefore we cannot base our level of success on someone else’s achievements. I want to challenge you to change your perspective because our standard of life is not based on the physical things we see . This does not negate role models or mentors in our lives. It does not mean you should stop dreaming or aiming high to achieve your goals. It means that, your dreams and goals in your life should not be based on any created being but it must be based on a standard set by your creator. You may ask “why” and I have got the right answer for you.

A man’s mind plans his way [as he journeys through life], But the Lord directs his steps and establishes them.
Proverbs 16:9 (AMP)

God had a perfect plan for your life when He created you. A specific purpose for which He said to Himself, let us make “INSERT YOUR NAME“, in our own image and in our likeness. For this same reason, when He was calling prophet Jeremiah out on mission, He explained to him why He was fit for his role. He said to Jeremiah:

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Jeremiah 1:5 (NIV)

David further reiterate this in the Psalms.

13-16 Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.
Psalm 139:13-16 (MSG)

If you look back on your life over the years, how has your life course been directed? How are you taking inventory of the days and hours God has assigned to you? Are you being accountable for what you do in your life? We are here for a purpose and so Paul calls us, Ambassadors; that makes us representatives of God. Just as an Ambassador to a nation works hard to project a positive image of the nation they represent, that is the same charge we have over our lives.

So we are Christ’s ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We [as Christ’s personal representatives] beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor [now offered you] and be reconciled to God.
2 Corinthians 5:20 (AMPC)

The reality is, we get so busy with life, family, work, friends that we easily lose sight of who we should be representing in all these relationships. For me, it takes a lot of nudging to remember what my role and purpose is in every situation. Ultimately, we want His perfect plan to be accomplished in our lives if we are to represent Him well here on earth. For any new job or contract, you are usually given an appointment letter, a job description alongside the terms and conditions of the role. In the same vein, God has also given us His terms and conditions through His word. Our standard for life and our measurement of success should therefore be by His terms and conditions (Bible).

So the next time, you are tempted to compare your achievements to others to measure your success, pause for a minute and remember what the true plumb line is. Conversely, when you are tempted to settle for less because everyone around you is below par, remember your plumb line and reach out and grab unto the Author and Finisher of your faith (Jesus Christ). Allow Him to lead you into the standard He has set for you. Like a rudder steers and manoeuvres a ship and direct it on where it needs to go, so is the Holy Spirit your rudder.

In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.
Proverbs 3:6 (AMPC)

God has made us all accountable to various entities here on earth; work, family, church, and the list goes on, but when all the dust of the day settles, our true Auditor is our Father. He awaits to have a chat with you, where you surrender all and ask, “Dad, how well am I doing at this job of life you have assigned to me?”  Then you will get the answer that truly satisfies, “Well done my child”.

As an Ambassador, report for duty, heaven is rooting for you. Jesus is our plumb line. He is the standard.

May you be filled with the Fullness of God and the Power of His Love!