The Laser Level

Have you seen the new laser level on television? It has a bubble to show you when the instrument is level and then you turn on the laser. The red light projects out from the level and everything you mount along that line will be level. Fast, easy and fool proof isn’t it?

Amos 7:7-8

Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the LORD stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand. And the LORD said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the LORD, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel:

That plumb line is Jesus Christ. Each of us measures our uprightness against that standard. WWJD, What Would Jesus Do, is a popular catch phrase of the day reminding followers to be like Jesus. Every time we come up against a difficult situation we stop and think, "What would Jesus do?" and hoepfully we would respond in a loving manner.

Many a Christian has had his efforts dashed by trying to live a life like Jesus. We are not Jesus and no matter how hard we try we don’t measure up. His standard of excellence is just so perfect that none of us measure up.

I am here to say, "Thanks be unto God that He didn’t leave it up to us."

Romans 14
1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

According to verse 4 God is the one who makes us able to stand. God held the plumb line and in like fashion holds us. How upright is not the issue. We are the Lord’s. That is the one thing that matters.

2 Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise

We look down the road and see others ahead of us. We look behind and see others gaining fast. When we do this we loose focus on what God is doing in us now, in the moment. It isn’t about how far you’ve come or how far you have to go. It’s isn’t about how upright you walk. It’s about the hand the holds you.

Philippians 3

10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.