Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: 'Whoever believes will not be in haste.' And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plumb line; and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and waters will overwhelm the shelter." [Isaiah 28:16-17 ESV]
It’s so hard to know what to believe in the news today. There are so many stories, facts, and figures, and each one contradicts the last. We live in a world where truth is subjective. It is based on feelings, perceptions, opinions, and hypothesis. We also live in a society obsessed with the idea of freedom. Freedom of choice, freedom of speech, freedom to live my life as I want to. So what makes us free?
Three prominent thoughts of what will make one free are truth, education, and from within. So, does it? Does freedom come from truth, education, and within? The answer is yes…and no. Each of these statements, when based on certain things are true, and each one based on other things are completely false.
If truth is subjective, then it depends on what the truth is based on. How do you know if something is right or wrong? The phrase “the truth will set you free” is from Scripture, but it’s much more than this one phrase. It comes from John 8:31-32, “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."” The importance is where the truth comes from, and the truth here is from God’s Word.
Isaiah 28:17 tells us that God will make justice the line and righteousness the plumb line. The word line simply means a measuring cord, a line used to measure something; we would say a measuring tape. A plumb line is a tool brick layers use. It’s simply a string with a plumb or weight at the end. The weight holds the string down and straight so the brick layer can test the straightness of a line or wall by this string; a vertical level. God’s Word is that line for us.
God will judge this world based on the truth of His Word. He has set a standard or base line off of His own nature and character. He is righteousness, and this righteousness and holiness is the standard by which we find if our lives are level and plumb.
So truth from God’s Word will always set you free. Education in truth, only found in God’s Word, will set you free. And as a believer I have the teacher of truth, the Holy Spirit, living within me who has set me free. Free from sin. Free from death. Freedom in the things that truly matter.
I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ's return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation--the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ--for this will bring much glory and praise to God. [Phl 1:9-11 NLT]
So as every aspect of your life gets scrambled about, as you search for something to hold on to in order to keep your bearings and perspective straight, remember that God has no variation. We can trust Him and His Word to be our plumb line. As we read it and allow the Holy Spirit to show us how to process life through its lens, we will see if we’re staying straight as we live or if we’re going slightly off plumb and a little cockeyed.
Reflection Questions:
- Do you struggle to know if what you’re hearing is truth or not?
- Have you ever thought that truth must be based on something?
Do you use the plumb line of Scripture to measure your walk or the baseline of the American Christian Church, or the world? There is only one that is truly plumb.
Reflection Song:
