Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unfathomable are His judgments! And how untraceable are His ways!
Romans 11:33
An article written by an ABC news entitled Mining for Gold: One of the Most Dangerous Jobs says that South Africa's Mponeng gold mine, has the title of the world's deepest mine at 2.4 miles underground. Their desire for gold is pushing the South African miners deeper underground than man has ever gone before.
Many problems arise when digging so deep into the Earth. The most obvious is the heat. For example, at 5 km the temperature reaches 70 degrees Celsius and therefore massive cooling equipment is needed to allow workers to survive at such depths. Another problem is the weight of the rock. For example, at 3.5 km the pressure of rocks above you is 9,500 tones per meter squared, or about 920 times normal atmospheric pressure. When rock is removed through mining this pressure triples in the surrounding rock. This effect coupled with the cooling of the rock causes a phenomenon known as rock bursts, which accounts for many of the 250 deaths in South African mines every year. Don’t forget things like darkness, humidity, killer gas, rock slides, runaway trains and even claustrophobia.
The ABC news writer who had an opportunity to go down into the deepest mine underground asked the mine production manager as they dropped at 30 miles per hour. "How much further is it possible to go?”, she said. "We don't know, we'll see when we get there", the man replied. The reporter asked the boss if that is the hardest job in the world. "I think it's going to rank right up there, yes," the boss told her with a hint of pride.
As they went deeper, she was soon awed by the sight of what they were looking for -- tiny specks of gold wrapped around ancient pebbles. Three billion years ago the place was a huge lake bed. It's pretty amazing to think that, after all that time, man thinks it's worthwhile to risk life and limb to comb all the way down there to get it.
The Bible tells us to dig up and love and desire wisdom. It may be hard to do as digging for gold and will cost us a lot, a lot of examination, investigation, inquiry, questions and discernments (1 Cor. 2:15). Things that would require our time, constant devotion, faithfulness, submission, humility and even putting every hindrances away. As Psalms 4:6-7 NIV ”Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”
Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians especially in chapter 2 talks about the Wisdom of God, which was once hidden from human understanding, was revealed to us by God through the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells in us. The Wisdom and the Power of God which is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ as said in 1 Cor. 1:24. The Treasure all of us should dig for more than anything else in this world. Jesus Christ is more than gold that a lot of people desire and appreciate. He is more that any jewel underneath the earth that is worthwhile to risk life and limb to comb all the way down there to get it.
For those who are called, whether Jew or Greek (Gentile), Christ [is] the Power of God and the Wisdom of God.
1 Corinthians 1:24
In Him all the treasures of [divine] wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God) and [all the riches of spiritual] knowledge and enlightenment are stored up and lie hidden.
Colossians 2:3
We can't fully comprehend God, He is infinite and we are limited. How can we fully grasp someone that is immeasurable in value and knowledge and someone who eternally exists and has no beginning and end? As the Bible said in Deuteronomy 29:29 that the secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever. Things that God unveiled and made ready for those who love Him. Let us desire to dig and achieve the deepest mine we could actually reach in accordance to His will and the things He would reveal to us and through the power of the Holy Spirit operating inside us. And as His Spirit also helps us to spiritually discern and spiritually appreciate them.
Just like the gold miners, how much further could we possibly go? we don’t know, we'll see when the Lord takes us there. Let us dig for Jesus through reading and meditating on the Word of God everyday and live with it and we should be very eager and excited for those moments that we will be in awe by the sight of what we are looking for-- tiny specks of gold wrapped around ancient pebbles. The joy and fulfillment of digging for Jesus Christ, His majesty and worth. For from Him, though Him and to Him are all things and In Him we live and move and have our being.
