On Trapped Miners and Spiritual Truths
As I write this piece, the 33 trapped Chilean miners are about to be rescued, one at a time. They have been trapped underground since August 5, and all the television networks are now devoted to their final release. It will be an amazing media event, as well as a cause of great joy when they are all delivered from their underground prison.
While it is a tremendous human interest story, complete with highs and lows, human courage and endurance, pathos and joy, and plenty of other emotions, it also offers a number of spiritual lessons. The first and most obvious one, from a biblical point of view, is that we are all trapped sinners.
Our sinful condition is so bad, so severe, and so entrenched, that there is absolutely nothing we can do for ourselves to get out of our predicament. Unless there is help from above, we are all doomed. The obstacles to be overcome are far too great for any of us.
The Christian message is that we are lost sinners, indeed, we are all dead in our sins and trespasses. Self-effort just will not cut it when we are dead. We need resurrection, not mere reform, and that life-giving rescue must come from somewhere outside of ourselves.
And God in Christ of course has been that rescuer. He has taken the initiative, not us. Indeed, we are content to live in our sin and rebellion against God. “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:8). We were no-hopers, and only a divine rescue plan could be of any use.
These miners are under no illusion of their hopeless predicament. Unless they get outside help, they are doomed. That is true of every one of us, spiritually speaking. Our sinful condition is overwhelming and terminal. Only a gracious rescue plan initiated by God can get us out of our dire straits.
Another lesson has to do with the nature of God’s work of salvation. God’s deliverance is a complete package. It is not just the offer of forgiveness, but of actual deliverance and transformation. Consider a similar sort of scenario. A boy on a remote farm is repeatedly told by his father not to go to a dangerous part of the property.
There is a deep and dangerous ravine in one corner of his land, and he does not want his young son endangering himself by playing in the area. Yet as young boys often do, he disobeyed his father, and spent some time exploring this ravine.
And sure enough, the next thing he knew was that he was at the bottom of the ravine, trapped and without hope of getting out. As the day drew to a close, with no sign of his son, the farmer went looking for his missing son. He figured the ravine would be the first place to investigate.
And there he was. The son cried out in desperation, “I’m sorry, dad, I’m sorry! I should not have gone here. I should have obeyed you!” His father replied, “That’s OK son. I forgive you”. And with that, he walked back to the farmhouse.
Now what is wrong with that story? Would any father really do this? Of course not. The father would not only forgive his wayward son, but would rescue him, deliver him, set him free from his predicament. That is also true in the spiritual realm.
Christian forgiveness does not just entail divine forgiveness. It also involves a divine rescue plan. God does not want to leave us in our desperate entrapped condition. He wants to set us free, to deliver us from the pit we are in. Forgiveness is just one aspect of biblical salvation.
Being delivered from our sinful, selfish lifestyles is also part of salvation as found in Scripture. God forgives, but he also delivers us out of our predicament. He sets the prisoner free, and rescues those who cannot rescue themselves. Biblical salvation is far more than just a legal pronouncement of forgiveness. It also involves a transformed life.
A third spiritual lesson to be gleaned from this event is that we must keep short accounts. The truth is, you never know when you might be brought up short. Life offers no guarantees, and every day may be your last. And it is not just the shortness and unexpected nature of life, but the idea of being caught out.
While these miners knew their work was risky indeed, and mine collapses are always a possibility, they go to work hoping this will not be the case. But when the unexpected does happen, are we ready for it? Recall that early on when this story developed, one quite embarrassing situation arose.
It seems that one of the miners had not only his concerned wife waiting for him up top, but also his concerned mistress! Needless to say, the wife was not very pleased to make this discovery, and while the miner, once freed, will be elated, he will also be in big trouble as he seeks to sort this mess out.
You never know when your secret life might get exposed. Better to live a life of integrity so as not to have to worry about such embarrassing and damaging moments. When we walk in the light, and keep close accounts, we will not have to fear about unexpected contingencies. We can face life without fear or concern.
Other lessons undoubtedly present themselves from this episode. But as always, the stuff of this life provides fertile soil for spiritual teaching. We need to heed the lesson we find around us, as we consider the bigger and eternal issues of life.
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Thanks Bill,
I’d not noticed the analogy between the trapped miners and mankind’s spiritual condition. But it’s certainly an apt one.
Mansel Rogerson
The analogy is SO powerful Bill. In my counseling of men who are caught in bondage to sexual sins for instance, I have to again and again impress on them not to focus on ‘how they got trapped’ (parallel to modern psychiatry) but focus purely on ‘getting out’ and who is able to release them.
As I’ve oft said, when you are in a hole, you can waste time trying to figure out how you fell in, or focus on how to get out.
Rob Robertson
Just watching the live coverage of the miners being rescued, it is being revealed that some of these miners have a strong faith in GOD, and this has helped them through this ordeal. The second rescued miner gave the most beautiful, faith-filled speech which moved me to tears. I am trying to find a link for this on the internet (if there is one yet). Please share the link if you can find it. It is inspiring, and a slap in the face to those who scorn followers of Christ.
Jane Petridge
Dear Bill, The trapped miners have had a lot of time to think about their mortality and their spiritual condition haven’t they? My husband spent fourteen years as a coal miner in Yorkshire in the fifties and sixties so he has taken a great interest in the miners’ plight because he can empathise with them to some extent. He said he often used to come up in the cage on his own when he was on a split shift. He said coming up alone in the pitch darkness were spiritually useful because they forced him to think of his own mortality and not take it for granted even though he was only in his twenties and early thirties at the time. Many fall into serious sin or become indifferent to God because they fail to understand the unpredictability of life and the fact that death is always impending. They have to learn it through bitter experience and even then some don’t learn and become better people. They continue on as before.Let’s hope these miners do become better people because of their harrowing experience. One young wife expressed this hope when she said that her husband seemed more humble since he had been trapped and hoped it would last.
Patricia Halligan
Indeed, the difference between the salvation of these miners and a saved sinner is that many of these men will simply carry on life as before, still trapped in their sin. The Christian, on the other hand, is not only redeemed and restored but regenerated for a life fit for the Kingdom of God.
David Skinner, UK
Thanks Jane
Here is one more general link: http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctliveblog/archives/2010/10/chilean_miner_g.html
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Here is the 2nd miner rescued, Mario Sepulvelda’s interview:
(he says how God helped him in the first few minutes, then the rest is about the rescue.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSrnh9BYvVs&feature=related
It reminds me of how He brought me up out of the miry pit.
Anita Gerardi
This is what Mario Sepulvelda said- “I met God. I met the devil. God won.” (Other translation version: “I was with God and with the devil, and God took me,” and “I was with God and with the devil. And I reached out for God.”)
Anita Gerardi
FYI, there is a nice piece in the Australian by Greg Sheridan called ‘Attack on Christianity will Undermine Society’ on the importance of Christianity for Australia
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/attack-on-christianity-will-undermine-society/story-e6frg6zo-1225938377118
Damien Spillane
Bill, I really appreciated your ‘parable’ of the father and his wayward son. Keep it up.
Peter Murnane, Sydney NSW
Isn’t God good – so enjoyed hearing the miners affirming God was with them. Thanks for your analogy Bill.
Vickie Janson
Well said Bill – you’re a great voice for the Kingdom.
Richard Warner
Thank you Bill for the link.
This is such an integral part of this story, and as expected, the MSM choose to ignore, and even criticize the ‘religious fervour’ shown by the miners. The Chilean president made the sign of the cross numerous times during the rescue, and made reference to God and faith numerous times, when speaking to the media.
So what does the media ‘pump up’ for a story in all this – a miner who has a wife and a mistress. Inspiration for all…..
Jane Petridge
Thanks guys
Here is another article on this story: http://townhall.com/columnists/JaniceShawCrouse/2010/10/18/faith_and_the_rescued_chilean_miners/page/1
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Praise God Bill! You always sum up everything so well!
Jane Byrne
Thanks guys
It seems that Chile is pro-life in more ways than one: http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/new-video-shows-chiles-defense-of-life-doesnt-stop-with-trapped-miners?utm_source=LifeSiteNews.com+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=cb29135225-LifeSiteNews_com_Intl_Headlines12_07_2010&utm_medium=email
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch