The Plumbline

When life is dark, a light will shine for those who live rightly— those who are merciful, compassionate, and strive for justice. Good comes to all who are gracious and share freely; they conduct their affairs with sound judgment. (Psalm 112:4-5 VOICE) Life gets dark sometimes, doesn't it? In those dark places we want even the tiniest bit of light to help us get through, don't we? We are never without light, even in the dark places of life! We might not understand why darkness is surrounding us, but we can trust that there will be light that shines through. Those who are merciful, compassionate, and strive for justice shall always be assured of light shining on their path. Merciful people don't just receive mercy - they give it freely because they know how freely they have received it. Compassionate people don't just feel concern for the suffering they can see - they feel it deeply just because they know it exists. Justice may seem like it is far away at times. There ...

Voltaire said, "It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere." Isaiah reminds us, "The Eternal One’s reach is not so short that He cannot save you. His ear is not so deaf that He cannot hear you. Your persistent wrongdoing has come between you and your God; since you constantly reject and push God away..." (Isaiah 59:1-2 VOICE) There is a constancy to sin, isn't there? We are pulling against it, but it is pulling us into it repeatedly. The fool is never free from the bonds of those chains - from the repeated pulling toward the unwise choice. The wise will call out, realizing they are pulled beyond their strength to resist. Their call will be heard - not by human ears, but by the ears of a God who delights in setting the captive free! Their bondage will be broken. Their freedom is assured! One must realize the need for freedom, though. We have to recognize the bondage of sin - the pull that is beyond our ability to resist with mere willpower. The ...