Pilot has worked hard on remodeling our master bath. As the final parts and pieces came in place a discovery was made. Our walls are not plumb. They are not straight. They deviate from the standard. As a result, there is a gap between the wall and our new counter top. To make matters worse, the gap varies in width.

So what happened when the house was built all those decades ago? Didn’t the carpenter check his plumb line to make sure the newly installed wall was vertically straight? Did the ground shift and throw everything off?

Growing up, I loved rummaging in my dad’s work room. He had some fascinating tools. I loved watching him tinker and repair. He was a perfectionist. If it was worth doing, it was worth doing right.

A couple of the fascinating tools he owned were a plumb line and a level. I loved to watch these tools wobble back and forth until they decided what was plumb and what was level.

God uses a plumb line and a level, too. His building plans are in the Bible. Instructions inside its pages tell us how to live our lives. They show us what is lined up with God’s standards.

According to Webster’s dictionary, a plumb line is a tool that consists of a small, heavy object attached to a string or rope and that is used especially to see if something (such as a wall) is perfectly vertical.

According to the Dictionary of the Bible, it is a cord weighted with lead that is used in building to check that vertical structures are true. It is used symbolically to refer to the divine standard God, the builder of his people, uses to test and judge them. It also symbolizes the standards by which God will rebuild his people.

One day God will take out his plumb line, hold it against the walls of our lives, and judge accordingly. Don’t you think we should make sure we’ve paid attention? Studied his Word so we know right from wrong. Kept from letting the world distract us from our purpose? We must not be satisfied that our walls are good enough to pass inspection by the world’s standards. It’s God’s plumb line we’ll be measured against.

What are your thoughts on the subject? Leave your comments below.