The Plumb Bob: Building Your Life on a Standard That Doesn’t Move

Please turn to Amos in the Old Testament. Amos? Yeah... Amos.

When I was in my early twenties, I was a home builder. I built houses. And one of the first things you learn on a job site is that your eyes will lie to you. You can stare at a wall all day long and think it’s straight, but until you check it, you don’t actually know. That’s where a simple little tool like this comes in that’s been around for thousands of years.

It’s called a plumb bob or plumb line. The Egyptians used it to build the pyramids. Masons still use it today. 

Every single time, the plumb bob points to true vertical. Perfectly plumb. It doesn’t matter what the ground looks like. Doesn’t matter how the wind is blowing. Doesn’t matter what the guy next to you thinks is straight. The plumb bob tells you what’s actually straight, because it’s anchored to something that doesn’t change: gravity.

If the builder ignores the plumb bob, the building will be crooked. He might not see it at first. The wall might look fine to the eye. But over time, that small lean compounds. Doors won’t close right. Floors will slope. Load-bearing walls start to crack and settle. The whole structure becomes unreliable. And it all started because someone said, “Eh, that looks close enough,” instead of checking it against the standard.

I learned that lesson building houses. But it turns out it’s the same lesson God has been teaching His people for thousands of years.

God’s Plumbline

In the bible, there’s a story about God showing the prophet Amos a plumb bob (or plumb line). God showed Amos a wall that had been built with a plumb line — and God Himself was standing there holding it. Actually, He was measuring His own people against the standard He gave them.

Amos 7:7–8: (7) Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand. (8) 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.”

God was asking Amos here: The people of Israel – are they straight? Are they lined up with what I gave them? Are they in alignment and harmony with my love? Or have they drifted? Have they started eyeballing it, instead of checking it against the standard?

For us, right now, today, the Word of God is that plumb line. We live according to what was written TO us (Romans through Thessalonians). It’s the standard for us that doesn’t move. 

Now remember this: the entire bible isn’t written TO you. Most of the bible is written to people who lived thousands of years ago, and so that old testament stuff is just FOR our learning. Old Testament stuff is not written TO us. That was then, the law, the Law of Moses, for example. We teach in our Foundation Class how to read the bible and know which parts are written to you, so you can apply those present truths to your life. 

In life, things change. Culture changes. Opinions shift. Books come and go. Netflix shows and podcasts trend for a while. But the Word stays true, straight, and vertical. It’s anchored to God Himself — and God doesn’t change. (Malachi 3:6, Hebrew 13:8, James 1:17, Numbers 23:19, Isaiah 40:8). 

Let’s turn to Ephesians 4. 

When you know the Word, you can hold it up against anything you hear — a book, a podcast, a text, a comment at work, a class in school, a self-help program online — and see whether it lines up straight or whether it leans off. You have a reference point. You have something to measure against. You have a standard. 

Without the Plumbline

Without a standard, here’s what happens:

We’re in Ephesians. Let’s read Ephesians 4:14 — "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive."

Tossed to and fro. That’s a life without a plumbline. Every new idea sounds good. Every teacher sounds convincing. Every book seems like it’s got the answer. But you’ve got nothing to measure it against. So you drift. You lean a little here, a little there. And just like that wall, it might not look like a problem right away — but over time, things stop working the way they should.

Paul talked about this in a letter he wrote called Romans:

Romans 12:2 — "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

Don’t be conformed. Don’t let the world shape you into what it says about you. Instead… be transformed — how? By the renewing of your mind. And how do you renew your mind? With the Word. That’s the plumbline. You take what the world gives you, hold it up next to the Word, and you can see whether it’s straight on and true (in alignment and harmony with God) or whether it leans and is off.

The Word: Your Standard for Living

The beautiful thing is, when you’re born again, you have the ability to know this standard personally (1 Corinthians 2:12, 1 John 2:27). You have God in Christ in you (Colossians 1:27, 1 John 4:4, Galatians 4:6). You have holy spirit (Acts 2:38, Romans 5:5, 2 Corinthians 1:22). You have the power to understand the Word, to apply it, and to live by it (2 Timothy 1:7, Philippians 4:13, James 1:22).

For example: 

2 Timothy 1:7 says, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

Colossians 1:27 says you have Christ in you. 

1 Corinthians 2:12–13 — "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual."

We don’t have to guess. We don’t have to hope we’re living a good life. You have a standard, and you can check yourself against it every single day. You know WHO you ARE — a son or daughter of God. You know WHAT you HAVE — Christ in you, holy spirit, the power of God at work in your life. And you know WHAT you can DO with it — greater works than Jesus did, according to John 14:12, because he went to the Father and made this power available to every believer.

An Example: Holding a Book Up to the Plumbline

Let me give you an example of what this looks like in my life. A few days ago, a good friend of mine gave me a book to read. It’s a thoughtful book. The author talks about love, community, belonging, finding your purpose, the power of transformation. Really good stuff. I was reading along and I kept thinking the same thing over and over:

I already know this. And I learned it from the Word.

The author of the book — maybe unknowingly — is paraphrasing what was already written 2,000 years ago in the New Testament. The language is different. She uses terms like “evolution,” “cosmic consciousness,” and “wholeness.” But when you hold it up next to the Word? The core ideas line up almost sentence to verse.

So I did something kind of cool. I used an AI tool and I put the book side by side with the KJV bible. Concept by concept for many pages. Here’s what came out:

APPENDIX

The Full Side-by-Side Comparison

The Unbearable Wholeness of Being by Ilia Delio (pp. 179–192)

compared with the King James Version of the Holy Bible

QUOTED FROM THE BOOK (page #)	WHAT THE WORD ALREADY SAID (KJV)
GOD IS LOVE — WHOLENESS AND ONENESS
“God is the energy of wholeness and the irresistible lure that attracts every whole toward greater wholeness.” (p. 179)	1 John 4:8 — He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 1 John 4:16 — God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Deuteronomy 6:4 — Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD.
“Love at the heart of being empowers life toward more being and more life.” (p. 179)	John 10:10 — I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. Ephesians 3:20 — Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.
WE BELONG TO ONE ANOTHER — ONE BODY, MANY MEMBERS
“Every human person desires to love and to be loved, to belong to another.” ... “We are born social and relational. We yearn to belong, to be part of a larger whole.” (p. 179)	1 Corinthians 12:12–14 — For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body. Romans 12:5 — So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
“We belong to one another because we have the same source of love.” ... “We are already one.” (p. 180)	Ephesians 4:4–6 — There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
JESUS SHOWED A NEW KIND OF LOVE
“Jesus showed us a ‘conscious love,’ one that sees, feels, and unites with others for the sake of life.” (p. 181)	John 13:34–35 — A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
“It is not the religious act that makes the Christian.” (p. 181)	James 1:27 — Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. Romans 2:29 — But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter.
“To return home to ourselves is to commit ourselves to new life. Jesus began his public ministry with a plea for conversion, to change the way we think about things.” (p. 183)	Romans 12:2 — And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Ephesians 4:23–24 — And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, AND LOVE
“Wisdom is knowledge deepened by love.” ... “If love is absent from the core of knowledge—whether on the level of science, university education, or Christian faith—the end result is division, confusion, and separation.” (p. 182)	1 Corinthians 8:1 — Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. 1 Corinthians 13:2 — And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith... and have not charity, I am nothing. Proverbs 4:7 — Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
GOD IN CHRIST IN YOU — THE TEMPLE IS WITHIN
“We must surrender within where God is seeking to be born.” (p. 184) ... “He realized that the church is not built with stones but with human hearts centered in divine Love.” (p. 184)	Colossians 1:27 — Christ in you, the hope of glory. 1 Corinthians 3:16 — Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 1 Peter 2:5 — Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood.
LOVE AS POWER AND GIFT
“Love is not a marketing tool; it is a form of worship, a transcendent spiritual power. It is the deepest creative power in human nature. It is bearing life as gift.” (p. 185)	2 Timothy 1:7 — For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Ephesians 2:8 — For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.
THE FULLNESS OF LIFE — GREATER WORKS
“Jesus’ law of love is the law of Christian discipleship, for the one who loves will make greater wholes than Jesus.” (p. 187)	John 14:12 — Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
NEW WINE IN NEW WINESKINS
“As long as we remain in the old temple with old laws and old rituals, we are old wine that has lost its flavor. New wine must be put into new wineskins.” (p. 187)	Mark 2:22 — No man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles... but new wine must be put into new bottles. 2 Corinthians 5:17 — If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
IT’S ALL PAID FOR
“Those who out of love for Christ give themselves to the service of others will live, like the grain of wheat that dies.” ... “May this body immolated and this blood sacrificed for humans nourish us also, so that we may give our body and our blood to suffering and to pain—like Christ.” (p. 189) [Benjamin’s note: No need to suffer! It’s all paid for.]	Romans 8:1 — There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. 1 Peter 2:24 — Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. Isaiah 53:5 — He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
ONE WHOLE BODY — CHRIST UNITES US
“Because Christ unites different bodies into one body through his suffering on the cross, it is the cross with its gift of self-giving love that is the basis of community.” (p. 191) ... “Our relationship to Christ is our relationship to one another.” (p. 192) ... “Relationships that transform strangers into family.” (p. 192)	Ephesians 2:14–16 — For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us... that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross. 1 John 4:20–21 — If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar... And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. Ephesians 2:19 — Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.

There’s nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). I went through many pages and every major concept had a scripture that said it first — and said it better. 

Where the Book Leans

Now, here’s where the plumbline does its job. Because the book isn’t all straight. Some of it leans.

The book talks about ongoing suffering as the path to God — that we need to suffer and sacrifice like Jesus did. But what does the Word say? 

Well, the Word says Christ already paid for our sins. He already suffered so that we don’t have to carry that burden. (Romans 5:1, Romans 5:8-9, Romans 6:23, Romans 8:1, Romans 8:32, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 3:13, Galatians 5:1, Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 2:8-9, Colossians 1:13-14, Colossians 2:13-14, 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10, Isaiah 53:5). 

The book also leans into the idea that you need to “evolve” your way to God, that human consciousness has to reach some higher level to connect with the divine. But the Word says that’s already done. You don’t climb to God. God came to you. The moment you believed and confessed, it was finished.

Romans 10:9–10 says, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

That’s the starting point. Not the finish line. It’s done. Everything else — the growth, the love, the power, the renewed mind — flows from what’s already been given to you.

Learn to Fish

Now, I could just hand you my notes and say, “Here, look at what I found.” But that’s feeding you fish. I’d rather teach you how to fish.

What I did with this book, you can do with anything you’re reading, watching, or listening to. And you don’t have to be a Bible scholar to do it. 

There are AI tools available right now that can help you hold what you’re reading up against the Word. 

Here’s my prompt: 

I’m reading a book and I want to compare what the author is saying with what the Bible already teaches. I’m a Christian who reads the King James Version (KJV) exclusively.

Here is the text from the book:

[Paste the text here. You can type it out, take a photo and paste the image, or copy from an ebook.]

Please go through this text concept by concept and do the following:

1. Identify each main idea or concept the author is expressing.

2. For each concept, find one or more KJV Bible verses that teach the same thing or a closely related truth.

3. If any concept contradicts scripture, point that out and explain what the Word actually says.

4. Put the author’s words in quotation marks with the page number if I provide it.

5. Write out the full KJV verse text for each scripture reference.

6. Use plain, everyday language in your explanations. Keep it simple and clear.

Present the results in a two-column format: the book’s concept on the left, the KJV scripture on the right.

The point isn’t how to use AI. The point is this: you have a plumbline, and now you have a tool that can help you use it faster. The Word is still the standard. The AI just helps you find the verses and make the connections. You still have to read it, study it, believe it, and do it.

Building Straight

This week, when you hear something — a podcast, a book, a conversation, something on social media, something at work — hold it up to the plumbline. Ask yourself: Does this line up with the Word?

Like a builder checks a wall. And if it lines up? Great. There’s truth in a lot of places, because God’s truth is woven into the fabric of creation. But if it leans and is off? You’ll know. Because you’ve got the plumbline.

You know who you are. You know what you have. You know what you can do with it. And you’ve got a written standard that never moves, never changes, and never lets you down.

Psalm 119:105 — "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

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."

Build straight. Build your life straight. Build on the Word. And everything else in your life - everything - will line up.

You are the best. 

Amen?

For Further Study

Romans 8:1 — "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

Isaiah 53:5 says he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Are healed. Present tense. 

Romans 5:1 — "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Justified. Done. Peace with God isn't something you suffer your way into — it's already yours by faith.

Romans 5:8-9 — "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him."

He did it while we were still sinners. We didn't earn it then, and we don't earn it now.

Romans 6:23 — "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

It's a gift. Not a paycheck you earn through suffering.

Romans 8:32 — "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"

Freely give. Not "make us suffer for."

2 Corinthians 5:21 — "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

Christ became sin so we could become righteousness. The exchange is already complete.

2 Corinthians 5:17 — "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

The old is gone. You're not dragging the old burden around.

Galatians 3:13 — "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree."

Redeemed from the curse. Not still under it.

Galatians 5:1 — "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."

If someone's telling you that you need to suffer to get closer to God, that's a yoke of bondage. Christ already set you free from that.

Ephesians 1:7 — "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace."

We have redemption. Present tense. It's done.

Ephesians 2:8-9 — "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Not of works. Not of suffering. Not of sacrifice. Grace through faith.

Colossians 1:13-14 — "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins."

Hath delivered. Past tense. Already done.

Colossians 2:13-14 — "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross."

That's the nail in the coffin on this one. He blotted it out. He nailed it to the cross. The debt is cancelled.

1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 — "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him."

Not appointed to wrath. Appointed to live together with him. That's the whole point.

Malachi 3:6 — "For I am the LORD, I change not."

Hebrews 13:8 — "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."

James 1:17 – “with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." No shifting. No shadow of a change. 

Numbers 23:19 — "God is not a man, that he should lie.” God doesn't change His mind. What He said, He does.

Isaiah 40:8 — "The word of our God shall stand for ever." Everything else fades, but the Word stands.