GOD’S PLUMBLINE

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: I will not again pass by them any more (Amos 7:7-8).

Webster’s dictionary defines the plumbline as; “a lead weight hung at the end of a line to determine whether a wall is vertical or straight, instrument used to test if something is vertical or straight; instrument used to determine if lines are true.”

When God showed this vision to Amos, He was giving him a message to deliver to Israel. The message was “I have set a standard before you to follow, and you are going to be judged by this standard.”

In his commentary, Adam Clarke had this to say about the plumbline seen by Amos; “This appears to be an emblem of strict justice and indicates God is going to now visit them according to their iniquities.”

God goes on to tell Amos that Israel is about to be destroyed because they did not adhere to the standard He had set. On another occasion God again informs Israel, “Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet” (Isaiah 28:17).

Jeremiah knew that God had set a standard or “plumbed the line” before the people, and that is why his concern is so clear as he penned the following words; “Stand ye in the ways, and see and ask for the old paths, where is the good way and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16). But what was the response of the people? They said, “We will not walk therein.”

Even our Lord knew that man would not walk by the “plumbed” way. He told us there were two ways. One wide and broad that leads to destruction, the other strait and narrow that leads to life eternal. Many would go in by the broad way, but only a few would enter that strait and narrow way (Matthew 7:13,14).

In everything we do we must look for God’s “plumbline,” because it is by this measurement or standard that we will be judged. Let’s look now at what God has put His “plumbline” against to set the standard for us.

God has set His “plumbline” against our SALVATION. God and Christ want all men to be saved, they are not willing that any should perish. For this reason, God has given a standard which we must follow if we expect to be saved. We must hear the true word of God, because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). We must believe the word and in Jesus, God’s Son, because it is impossible to please God without belief (Hebrews 11:6). We must repent of our sins, because without repentance there can be no forgiveness (Luke 13:3). We must confess Christ, because if we confess Him before men, He will confess us before the Father (Matt. 10:32). And we must be baptized for the remission of our sins, because it is in baptism that we contact the cleansing blood of Christ (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:15,16; Acts 22:16; Rev. 1:5).

This is God’s standard for obedience to the Gospel. Anything else, taught by anyone else, anywhere else, at any other time is not true if it does not “plumb” according to God’s Word. We must be sure that what we do for salvation must not deviate from God’s straight line or else we will be lost.

God has placed His “plumbline” against our LIFE. Once we have obeyed the Gospel and become one of His children, God expects us to walk by His rule—His standard. He does not leave His rules to guess, but has laid them out for us in a straight for-ward way.

1. We are to deny ungodliness and worldly lust, and live soberly, righteously and godly (Titus 2:12).
2. We are to abstain from every form of evil (I Thessalonians 5:22).
3. We are to be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord (I Corinthians 15:58).
4. We are to avoid the works of the flesh, and seek the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:19-23).
5. We are to study to show ourselves approved of God, so that we might grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord (II Timothy 2:15; I Peter 2:2).
6. We are to add to our life the Christian Graces (II Peter 1:5-10).
7. We are to be an example to those around us (I Timothy 4:12-16). If we live by these and other rules and standards found in God’s Word, we can look for Him to say on that day of judgment “Well done thou good and faithful servant...enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Matthew 25:21).

God has placed His “plumbline” against our WORSHIP. God expects us, as His people, to worship Him “in spirit and in truth.” Worship must be done decently and in the order (I Corinthians 14:40) as God dictates; and, it must be for His glory. God's standard for our worship includes the following:

1. Preaching and teaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified (Acts 20:7).
2. Congregational singing (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16).
3. Publicly offering up prayers (Acts 2:42).
4. Remembering the Lord’s death by the partak-ing (on each first day of the week) of the Lord’s supper (I Corinthians 11:23-29; I Corinthians 16:1).
5. Giving of our means as we have purposed in our hearts, with the right attitude (I Corinthians 16:2; II Corinthians 9:7).

This is God’s prescribed way to worship, and He holds His “plumbline” against what we do and call worship. Anything left out is not pleasing to Him, and any-thing added is not pleasing to Him.

God has placed His “plumbline” against FALSE TEACHERS. God wants the Gospel preached to the whole world. It is this Gospel that is the power of God unto salvation to all that believe (Romans 1:16). Those who do not follow the standard in their preaching and teaching will have to face the wrath of God. Galatians 1:6-9 says that if we preach any other gospel than that which was once and for all delivered by the Lord, we will be accursed. 2 John 9-11 informs us as a people that if any one preaches or teaches any thing other than what was delivered by Christ, we are to reject them. Then II Peter 2:1 tells us that false teachers who bring in their “damnable heresies” shall be destroyed.

God and Christ knew that men would depart from sound doctrine, and would gather to themselves men who would preach to please the ear (II Timothy 4:3-4), and for that reason the “plumbline” was set against what must be preached, and we can not deviate from it. God’s word is complete, it is perfect, it is simple, and it is universal in that it applies to all men.

God has placed His “plumbline” against our WORKS. Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.” A Christian must be an active working servant in the Lord’s king-dom. Just as the physical body has many working parts, so does the spiritual body. And, for the body/church of our Lord to be in “good health,” every member must be a working part of it.

When God put His “plumbline” against our works, He looks to see if we have taken every opportunity to do good (Galatians 6:10). He looks to see if we are doing those works for His glory, or are we doing them to be praised of men (Matthew 5:16). He looks to see if we are following “that which is good to all men” (I Thessalonians 5:15). We must remember that on the day of Judgment we will give an account of all that we have done on this earth whether it be good or evil. God’s standard is for us to do good to all.

God told Amos “I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people.” Brethren we must believe that He has. Everything we do must be in accordance with God's standard or else it is sin.

Now let me ask you, if God was to hold His “plumbline” up beside you right now, as a congrega-tion or as an individual, would you be straight and true or would you be “off plumb?”

Danny L. Box

I Don’t Understand

Some things I don’t understand:

• I don’t understand how men who were once faithful Gospel preachers can preach a perverted “gospel” based on fantasy instead of fact (II Timothy 4:2; Galatians 1:6–9).
• I don’t understand why congregations put up with or fellowship preachers who have left the faith (I John 1:6–10; II John 9–11).
• I don’t understand how anyone can think that instrumental music in worship is authorized (or more beautiful) than singing that comes from our hearts (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16).
• I don’t understand how anyone can think that God’s Word changes just because his—or a family member’s—situation in life changes (Matthew 5:32; 19:3–9).
• I don’t understand how anyone can believe that the Spirit works directly on the heart of some unless he believes that God is a respecter of persons (Proverbs 24:23; John 7:24; Acts 10:34–35).
• I don’t understand why faithful Gospel preachers are ridiculed, abused, and even fired for doing what God has told them to do (I Corinthians 1:23; II Timothy 4:2).
• I don’t understand how anyone can love the things of this world and expect to be loved by the Father (I John 2:15–17).
• I don’t understand how God could love such a one as I and be willing to give up His Son to die as a sacrifice for me (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).
• I don’t understand pain, suffering, and death, but I do know that one day these will be no more (Revelation 21:3).

I don’t understand such things, but I know that if I endure faithfully to the end, God the Father will explain it all to me on that Day (II Timothy 4:7–8)!

Danny Box

“Am I Therefore Become Your Enemy, Because I Tell You the Truth?”

Truth as defined by Webster is: “that which is true; that which accords with fact or reality; an established or verified fact, or principle.” Truth as defined by the Bible is the Word of God (John 17:17).

Paul, in his entreaty in Galatians 4, is making the brethren aware that “now after ye have known God,” some were turning from following God, and were turning back to the world. He went on to say, “I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain.” Paul was letting them know of his concern for those who were once close to him. Then he makes this statement in Galatians 4:16, “Am I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?” Paul was simply asking them if he had made an enemy out of them by pointing out, based on the truth of God’s Word, what they were doing wrong. No longer were they following the Truth, but they were turning again to “the weak and beggarly elements.”

So many times today, we see brethren who are doing as did the Galatians, they are turning from the Truth of God, and to keep from upsetting them, or hurting their feelings, we do not tell them the truth of their condition. Brethren, we are commanded in Galatians 6:1 that if we see a brother “overtaken in a fault,” or in other words, straying from the Truth, we are to try our best to restore him. Let’s look together at some areas that we are commanded to tell the Truth.

“Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the Truth” on what it takes to be saved? From the Word of God, we find by example, commandment, and by inference, that for a person to be saved, they must hear the Truth of God’s Word (Romans 10:17); they Believe that Word (Hebrews 11:6); they must repent of their sins (Luke 13:3); they must confess Christ as the Son of God (Matthew 10:32); they MUST be baptized in the name of Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; I Peter 3:21). Many want to try and be saved by other means and ways, but this is the Truth on what it takes to be saved and nothing else is acceptable.

“Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the Truth” on how you should live? As a child of God, we cannot live as we please. God has given us instructions on Christian living. We are to live faithfully unto death (Revelation 2:10); we are to live soberly, righteously, and godly (Titus 2:12); we are to put the kingdom of God and His righteousness first in our lives (Matthew 6:33); we are to abstain from the very appearance of evil (I Thessalonians 5:22); we are to avoid the works of the flesh, and put on the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:19-26); we are to add to our faith the Christian graces (II Peter 1:5-10); we are to pray without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17); we are to be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord (I Corinthians 15:58); and we are not to forsake the assembly (Hebrews 10:25). Brethren, this is the way we are to live to be pleasing to God, and nothing else is acceptable to Him.

“Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the Truth” that there is only one church? Ephesians 4:4 states, “There is one body,” and Colossians 1:18 lets us know that the body is the Church. This Church is the one that was prophesied by Isaiah and Daniel, and it is the one that the Lord promised to build (Matthew 16:16-18), and it is that one that came into existence on Pentecost, in Jerusalem, A.D. 33. It is to the Church that the Lord added to those “as should be saved,” and only those who are in this Church will be saved. Many would have you to believe that there are good “Christians” in the denominational bodies, but unless you are a part of the Body of Christ, you will not be saved based on the Truth found in God’s Word.

“Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the Truth” that a child of God can be lost? Contrary to popular belief, “once saved, always saved” is not in the Bible. In fact, we have numerous Scriptures which teach otherwise. One in particular is found in I Corinthians 10:12, “Wherefore, let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.” Peter, in his writings, encouraged us to “give diligence to make our calling and election sure; for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall” (II Peter 1:11). The Bible over and over again encourages us to examine ourselves to be sure that we are remaining steadfast in the faith. Brethren, we can stumble and fall due to trials and temptations in our lives, and this is the Truth.

And finally, “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the Truth” on where we will be for all eternity? There are only two places prepared as a dwelling place for the souls of man after judgment. All that have ever lived will be in one of these two places. There is no middle ground, and there is no probation period of 1000 years as some teach. When we die, and the judgment comes, we will either be allowed to enter Heaven, that place of beautiful rest, ready for the “good and faithful servant” of the Lord, or we will be condemned to Hell, that place of torment “where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched.” One is a place of eternal reward, while the other is a place of eternal punishment. There are many that think they have a spot reserved in Heaven just waiting for them, but what did our Lord say? “Not every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he that doth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). Where we live for all eternity is conditional, based on whether or not we have done God’s Will in this life, and that is the Truth.

Brethren and friends, to the best of my ability, using God’s Word as my guide I have told you the Truth. Now let me ask you “Am I therefore become your enemy?”

Danny L. Box

Forsaking All

“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33). When we look up the word forsake we note that it means to “give up something formerly held dear; to renounce; to leave altogether; to abandon.” In the context of this verse we hear our Lord saying that unless we give up all that we have formerly held dear and leave it altogether, we cannot be counted among His followers. Let us look together at what we must forsake if we hope to please the Lord.

• I must forsake my church. Jesus said in Matthew 15:13 tells us that every plant which God has not planted shall be rooted up. The Lord promised to build one church (Matthew 16:18), and that is exactly what He did. If we want tobe saved, we must be a part of His church and not “My Church.”
• I must forsake my parents.  The Lord, in Matthew 10:37, tells us that if we love mother or father more than we love Him we are not worthy of Him. We cannot put anyone or anything before our love and service to the Lord. We must “seek…first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33), give Him our first-fruits, and not let anyone stand in our way of doing right.
• I must forsake the doctrines of men.  If we teach for doctrine the commands of men, then we are worshiping the Lord in vain (Matthew 15:9). The Word of the Lord was given to us “for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” so that we might be “completely” furnished with all that we need to do right (II Tim. 3:16–17). If we teach and preach anything else we will stand condemned.
• I must forsake all worldliness.  John wrote, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (I John 2:15). James said that if we are friends of the world we are the enemy of God (James 4:4). No man can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). No man can serve God and the world, so we must forsake this world and keep ourselves unspotted from the it (James 1:27).
• I must forsake my way. Jeremiah said that the way of man is not in himself and that man could not direct his own steps (Jeremiah 10:23). There is only one way that leads to eternal life, and that Way is the Lord. No man can get to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). If you have not done so, will you not forsake all, and surrender to the Lord before it is too late?

Danny Box

“A Bed Too Short; A Blanket Too Narrow”

Years ago when I was a student at Freed-Hardeman College, we had this prank that we would try to pull on each other. This prank was called “short-sheeting” and what we would do is catch one of our roommates out and while he was gone we would take the covers from his bed and rearrange them so that he would be unable to get into the bed on his return; and, if he did get in the bed, he would be unable to pull his covers up more than half way.    

On one occasion this prank was pulled on me. I was tired and got in from a chorus trip about 2:00 a.m. and tried to get in my bed but was met with resistance about half way down. But to keep from giving my roommates the satisfaction of my getting up and remaking my bed, I determined to sleep in it the way it was. I can assure you that this made for a most miserable night and put me in a physically uncomfortable situation. You see, I was in a bed that was too short, and my blanket was too narrow to cover me.    But, just as I found myself in this condition due to a prank, Israel, the chosen people of God, found themselves in a similar condition due to sin. Isaiah, God’s prophet described it this way in Isaiah 28:20, “For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it; and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.” Their spiritual condition was deplorable, and God was not pleased with it. Looking at this chapter, we see in the first four verses where the prophet described the terrible condition of the Northern tribes of Israel, describing them as a “wilting flower” compared to their former glory, and because they were morally indecent, they were ripe for destruction. Then in verses 7-15 the prophet tells the Southern tribes that they were no better off spiritually, being a mirror image of their sister in the North. As he tried to warn them, the prophet was ridiculed, and his message from God was ignored; and, because they continued on this course, they were “in a bed too short, with a blanket too narrow,” and were going to be destroyed.    

Now my question to everyone today is: How many times do we find ourselves in a bed too short with a cover too narrow? If we stop and examine our lives, we will see that it may be  more than we expect. Look with me now at some times we are “in a bed too short, with a blanket too narrow.”    

Anyone whose pride will not allow him to repent of known sins is “in a bed too short, with a blanket too narrow.” One of the first messages we find preached in the New Testament is the message of repentance. John preached this message in the area around Jordan, and our Lord preached along the shores of Galilee. To repent simply means to change, a change of heart that leads to a change of action in our lives. The Lord told us the importance of repentance when He said, “I tell ye nay, but except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). Brethren and friends, this does not cut us any slack. If we are guilty of sin, we must repent of those sins; and, if we don’t, we will perish in the second death. But so many times we might transgress God’s law, and feel that because it is not some big immoral sin that we don’t have to repent of it, but, if it is a known sin, if we don’t repent we will find ourselves in an inadequate and uncomfortable position at the Judgment. To be saved we must repent of those sins in our lives that have separated us from God.    

Anyone who wants an immoral lifestyle while trying to hang on to a semblance of Christianity is “in a bed too short, with a blanket too narrow.” Galatians 5:19-21 gives us a list of the works of the flesh. That list includes adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, reveling and such like, and we are told that they who do such things “shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.” So many times we see members of the Lord’s body who want to keep one foot in the world and one foot in the church. They have forgotten what John taught in I John 2:15, “Love not the world, neither the tings that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” When we are baptized into Christ, we are to rise up and begin a new life in Christ. We are to put off the ways of the world and walk in the light, and it is only by walking in the light that we can be assured of that heavenly home. Brethren, anyone who wants to be like the world in dress, entertainment, speech, actions, indulgences, and such while wanting to be known as a Christian, is that person who is “in a bed too short, with a blanket too narrow.”    

Anyone who refuses to serve God with a spirit of humble submission is “in a bed too short, with a blanket too narrow.” There is a song that we often sing that goes like this, “To the work, to the work, we are servants of God.” As this song describes, we are exactly that – servants of the Most High God. A servant is defined as “one who serves; one who obeys, ministers, assists.” That perfectly describes what we as Christians should be willing to be. Romans 12:1 tells us that we are to present ourselves to God because that is our reasonable service, or in other words, that is what is expected of us. We are not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought. Have you thought about the message we will hear at Judgment if we have been found faithful? “Well done my good and faithful servant” is what I am hoping to hear, but to do this I must be His servant here on this earth first. When we get to wanting to be in charge, and make decisions that supersede God’s and no longer want to humbly submit to His Will, His Word, and His Ways, then we are “in a bed too short, with a blanket too narrow.”    

Anyone who has a standard for his religion other than the standard God has given is “in a bed too short, with a blanket too narrow.” God has given us a standard to go by in religion; He just did not leave it to happenstance. This standard governs what we must do to be saved (hear, believe, repent, confess, and be baptized). This standard governs what we must do to stay saved (live faithfully, godly, righteous, sober lives). This standard governs what we must do to worship (a cappella singing, preaching/teaching the Truth, prayers, giving and partaking of the Lord’s Supper). This standard governs the mission of the church (teaching the lost, building up the brethren spiritually, and helping those in need). And this standard tells us how long we are do all of these things (till death, or until the Lord’s return). God told us not to add or take away from His standard, and if we try to, we will find ourselves “in a bed too short, with a blanket too narrow.”    

Finally, anyone who is unprepared to face God right now, is “in a bed too short, with a blanket too narrow.” We are assured in Hebrews 9:27 that we are all going to die, and death we will all stand before God and Christ to be judged. There is nothing we can do to change this, and there is no way we can avoid this. At Judgment we will receive the reward for what we have done while here on earth, whether good or evil. There is only one way we can keep from being in a terrible, inadequate position at Judgment. That way is to prepare for it right now. If you have not obeyed the Gospel plan of salvation and are not living a faithful, dedicated life for the Lord, then you are making no plans for the Judgment, and you are “in a bed too short, with a blanket too narrow.”    Please examine yourself, and determine if you are in that terrible condition; and, if you are, please listen to the Word and get up and “straighten up the covers” before it is eternally too late!    

Danny Box

God's Plumbline

“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, whatseest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more” (Amos 7:7-8).

Webster’s dictionary defines the plumbline as: “A lead weight hung at the end of a line to determine whether a wall is vertical or straight; instrument used to test if something is vertical or straight; instrument used to determine if lines are true.”

In his commentary, Adam Clarke has this to say about the plumbline seen by Amos: “This appears to be an emblem ofstrict justice and indicates God is going to now visit them according to their iniquities.” God goes on to tell Amos that Israel is about to be destroyed because they did not adhere to the standard He had set. On another occasion, God again informs Israel: “Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet” (Isaiah 28:17).

Jeremiah knew that God had set a standard or “plumbed the line” before the people, and that is why his concern is so clear as he penned the following words: “Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16). But what was the response of the people: “We will not walk therein.”

Even our Lord knew that man would not walk by the “plumbed” way. He told us that there were two ways. One wide and broad that led to destruction, the other strait and narrow that led to life eternal. Many would go in by one way but only a few would enter that strait and narrow way (Matthew 7:13-14). In everything we do we must look for God’s “plumbline,” because it is by this measurement or standard that we will be judged. Let’s look now at what God has put His “plumbline” against to set the standard for us.

God has set His “plumbline” against our salvation. God and Christ want all men to be saved, they are not willing that any should perish. For this reason, God has given us a standard which we must follow if we expect to be saved. (1) We must hear the true Word of God, because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). (2) We must believe the Word, because it is impossible to please God without belief (Hebrews 11:6). (3) We must repent of our sins, because without repentance there can be no forgiveness (Luke 13:3). (4) We must confess Christ, because if we confess Him before men, He will confess us before the Father (Matthew 10:32). (5) And we must be baptized for the remission of our sins, because it is in baptism that we contact the cleansing blood of Christ (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:15-16). This is God’s standard for obedience to the gospel. Anything else, taught by anyone else, anywhere else, at any other time is not true if it does not “plumb” according to God’s Word. We must be sure that what we do for salvation must not deviate from God’s straight line or else we will be lost.

God has placed His “plumbline” against our life. Once we have obeyed the gospel, and become one of His children, God expects us to walk by His rule or standard. He does not leave His rules to guess, but has laid them out for us in a straightforward way. (1) We are to deny ungodliness and worldly lust, and live soberly, righteously and godly (Titus 2:12). (2) We are to abstain from every form of evil (I Thessalonians 5:22). (3) We are to be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord (I Corinthians 15:58). (4) We are to avoid the works of the flesh, and seek the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:19-23). (5) We are to study to show ourselves approved of God, that we might grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord (II Timothy 2:15; I Peter 2:2). (6) We are to add to our life the Christian graces (II Peter 1:5-10). (7) We are to be an example to those around us (I Timothy 4:12-16). If we live by these and the other rules and standards found in God’s Word, then we can look for Him to say on that day of judgment: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant...enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:21-23).

God has placed His “plumbline” against our worship. God expects us as His people to worship Him “in spirit and in truth.” That worship must be done decently and in the order that God dictates, and it must be for His glory. God’s standard for our worship includes the following: (1) Preaching and teaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified (Acts 20:7). (2) Congregational singing (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). (3) Publicly offering up prayers (Acts 2:42). (4) Remembering the Lord’s death by the partaking on each First Day of the Week of the Lord’s Supper (I Corinthians 11:23-29; 16:1). (5) Giving of our means as we have purposed in our hearts and with the right attitude (I Corinthians 16:2; II Corinthians 9:7). This is God’s prescribed way to worship, and He holds His “plumbline” against what we do and call worship. Anything left out is not pleasing to Him, and anything added is not pleasing to Him.

God has placed His “plumbline” against false teachers. God wants the gospel preached to the whole world. It is this gospel that is the power of God unto salvation to all that believe (Romans 1:16). Those who do not follow the standard in their preaching and teaching will have to face the wrath of God. Galatians 1:6-9 lets us know that if we preach any other gospel than that which was once and for all delivered by the Lord, we will be accursed. Second John 9- 11 informs us as a people that if anyone preaches or teaches anything other than what was delivered by Christ we are to reject them.

Then II Peter 2:1 lets us know that false teachers that bring in their “damnable heresies” shall be destroyed. God and Christ knew that men would depart from sound doctrine, and would gather to themselves men that would preach to please the ear, and for that reason the “plumbline” was set against what must be preached, and we cannot deviate from it. God’s Word is complete, it is perfect, it is simple, and it is universal in that applies to all men.

God has placed His “plumbline” against our works. Matthew 5:16 goes like this: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” From this verse and many others we see that a Christian must be an active working servant in the Lord’s kingdom. Just as the physical body has many working parts, so does the spiritual body, and for the body of our Lord to be in “good health” each member must be a working part. When God puts His “plumbline” against our works, He looks to see if we have taken every opportunity to do good (Galatians 6:10); He looks to see if we are doing those works for His glory, or are we doing them to be praised of men (Matthew 5:16). He looks to see if we are following “that which is good” to all men (I Thessalonians 5:15).

We must remember that on the day of Judgment we will give an account of all that we have done on this earth whether it be good or evil, and God’s standard is for us to do good to all.

In conclusion, God told Amos: “I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people,” and brethren we must believe that He has. Everything we do must be in accordance with God’s standard or else it is sin. Now let me ask you, if God was to hold His “plumbline” up beside you right now, as a congregation, or as an individual, would you then be straight and true, or would you be “off plumb”?

"ONCE UPON A TIME"

As small children we were all told or read stories that began with the phrase “Once upon a time.” This phrase was a catch-all statement that literally meant “this was the way things were back then.” As we look all across the brotherhood and note the numerous problems that are facing the church, we need to take this phrase and make a spiritual application, looking at what made the difference “Once upon a time.”

"Once upon a time” the Word of God was respected. People today no longer respect God's Word as the authority in all things spiritual. Most no longer accept it as “the inspired will of God” that was given to man for “doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness.” A good example of how people felt about the Word is found in Nehemiah 8:1-12. We see a group of people that desired that the Word be brought and read to them; then while the reading was going on, they were attentive to the reading. As it was being read, they stood and remained standing for the entire reading, they bowed themselves and worshiped the Lord as the Word was read, they understood the reading, and then they went and did as instructed by the Word. Yes, “Once upon a time,” we had respect for God’s Word, but now we follow after the doctrines, creeds, and opinions of men.

“Once upon a time” the people had a mind to work. When the walls around Jerusalem were rebuilt by Nehemiah and the people, the job only took fifty-two days. We can read why in Nehemiah 4:6. “So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof, for the people had a mind to work.” Our Lord, when He was just twelve years old, knew He had a job to do; “Know ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” When we do the Work of the Lord, the lost will be taught, the erring restored, the hungry fed, the sick visited, the down-trodden lifted up, and the brethren edified. “Once upon a time” the brethren had a mind to work, and all of these things were accomplished, and the church was the fastest growing religious organization on the earth.

“Once upon a time” the gospel was all that was preached. Jesus gave the command to “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Now, look at what the disciple did. Acts 5:42: “And daily in the temple and in every house, they ceased not to teach, and preach Jesus Christ.” Acts 8:4: “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the Word.” Look at the results. Acts 2:41: “And the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” Acts 4:4: “Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.” Colossians 1:23: “if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven.” Paul told the young man Timothy to “Preach the word.” But today we see anything but the gospel being preached from the pulpit and taught in our class rooms, and then we wonder why we have problems in the church. Yes, “Once upon a time” the gospel was all that was preached to a lost and dying world, and it was this gospel that produced precious fruit in the Lord's vineyard.

“Once upon a time” Christians did not forsake the assembly. The Psalmist had the right attitude about the assembly when he penned these words, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.” Hebrews 10:25 encourages us not to make a willful choice to miss the assembling of ourselves together with brethren of like precious faith. However, we now see congregations with 200 in attendance at Sunday morning Bible study, 600 for the morning worship service and maybe 250 back for the evening worship, and only about half that many for the Wednesday evening service. My question would be, why the difference? Don't we assemble to worship God? Isn’t it just as important to assemble at all the services designated by the leadership, as it is at only one or at most two a week? If not, why not? Yes, “Once upon a time,” Christians were glad to go up to the house of the Lord to worship Him.

“Once upon a time” pleasing God was placed above anything else. In Matthew 6:33 we are given this command, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” Our primary purpose and goal in life is to serve God, and we can only do this if He is in His proper place in our life. But now-a-days we see Christians all across the brotherhood who are trying to serve God, as well as please man and from reading Matthew 6:24 we know this won’t work. We see brethren who love the world and the things of the world more than they love God, and 2 John 2:15 lets us know thatif this is the case, the love of the Father is not in us. The whole duty of man is to “fear God and keep His commandments,” and the only way we can do this, is if we put Him first in our life. “Once upon a time” men were willing to do this, but not any more.

As with every good story that started out “Once upon a time,” most all of them had a phrase that summed the story up that went like this, “And they all lived happily ever after.” If we will do as they did "Once upon a time,” then on the day of judgment we will hear “Well done thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord”, and when we hear this, we will “Live happily ever after.”

Danny Box