Associate Producer Tim LaFontaine Podcast Introduction Today we will be completing the book of Leviticus 16-18. Afterwards, I’ll have some thoughts to share with you. I’m calling today’s episode “The Plumb Line.” Comments on Leviticus 18 We’re going to tackle the elephant in the room in chapter 18. I have talked about this on the show before, and there is always a drop in the number of downloads of the show afterwards. Some people decide that they no longer want to listen. They disagree with me. I don’t mind if they disagree with *me*, but in disagreeing with the clear teaching of Scripture, they’re disagreeing with God. That makes me sad. As long as I’m talking about Love and Light, they like what they hear. But when the teaching from God’s Word gets hard, they don’t want to hear it. Please don’t turn away from God. His teaching is for our ultimate good. It is not to take away our fun. It is for our benefit. Whether we understand it or not.  The Apostle Paul, in writing to Timothy, a young pastor, said in 2 Timothy chapter 4, verses 1-4, “I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not.   Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.”  Beloved, this is the day we live in now. Some people believe that truth is hate. Nothing could be further from the truth.  And by the way, this is one of the reasons, the main reason, I don’t take advertisers on the show, and why I’m not interested in having the show on any of the podcast networks. What I am about to say would get me cancelled. My job, as well as anyone who teaches the Word of God, is to accurately reflect what I believe is the clear teaching of the Bible, regardless of the current culture, or even my own thoughts. The Bible is my plumb line. In case you’re not familiar with that phrase, a plumb line is used to show what is absolutely vertical. It’s usually a string with a weight tied on one end. I used to be in construction many years ago, and when building a wall, you want to build it vertically straight and true. One of the tools you can use to show if the wall is straight is a plumb line. You hold on to the string with the weight, or plumb, hanging down. And you hold the line up next to, but not quite touching the wall. The string should be the same distance from the wall, all the way from the top of the wall to where it is tied to the top of the plumb. If it isn’t, then your wall is not exactly vertical. So then you know to make adjustments, if your goal is to make a vertical wall.  Make sense? The plumb line is an absolute standard of what is straight and true. And so is the Bible. What is says is the truth. If there is any variation from the standard, then adjustments must be made, if your goal is to adhere to the standard. As believers, that should be our goal. If that isn’t your goal, then you have to have a conversation with yourself. You have to decide if you truly are a believer in Jesus. Because He said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”