GOLD!

We recently visited one of the gold mines in Dahlonega, Georgia left over from the Gold Rush of 1829. Our children were intrigued by the mines deep in the North Georgia Mountains. Our tour guide explained to us the different techniques used to mine for gold and some of the dangers of doing so. There were two different types of mining.

The first was called placer mining. In this type of mining, the gold that had washed down the mountains in the rivers and streams and could be found at the bottom of river beds. It was said that those first people to start mining could just kick up rocks in the stream and pick up gold nuggets. With the thousands of men that poured in to North Georgia to find their fortune, the “easy” gold to be found was quickly gathered up.

Then hard rock mining became necessary to find the gold. Tunnels were dug into the mountains and drilling or digging took place. When miners found a vein of gold, they would drill or dig out the mountain side. Then they carried the broken rock and dirt out of the mountain to crush it and look for the gold dust. This was considerably harder work than placer mining. With the likelihood of a cave-in and the ingestion of the rock dust, it was more dangerous as well. Still these brave men mined day after day in hopes to strike gold.

I was excited just hearing about the men who kicked up rocks and found gold. Why do we place so much value on gold, though? We can’t take it with us.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21 NIV

What if we spent as much time searching for real gold in Jesus Christ as those men did years ago in those gold mines? How much richer would our lives be? Would we do something to risk our lives every day to find Jesus? The men who went into those mines day after day risked their lives for the possibility of great riches. The great thing about Jesus is that finding Him doesn’t require all the hard work that hard-rock mining did. Finding Jesus is more like placer mining. We can just walk through life kicking up rocks and find Him everywhere.

If you kicked up a rock and found gold, would you keep on walking? No one would pass up free gold. But there are millions who daily pass up the free gift that Christ gives us. His gift is even better than gold, because we can take it with us.

Take some time today to share with someone how easy it is to find riches in Christ Jesus. He is the true Rock.

Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.

Isaiah 26:4 NIV

Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.

Proverbs 11:28 NIV

And if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 2:4-5 NIV