Mining

2 Timothy 3:16 NIV.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

I live near the Lackawanna County Coal Mine. It was an active coal mine many years ago, providing many men in the area with an average wage for the day. It was very hard work as they started their day before sunup, and ended after sundown. They saw no daylight, day after day. While many of the harsh conditions have improved for miners over the years, one thing remains the same-it is very hard to extrapolate coal from the earth! Yet, the end result for the miner was a paycheck, and the knowledge that he was providing a service to people all across the area, and beyond. Coal heated homes, businesses, locomotives, and I am sure many other useful things for life back in that era that I know nothing about. By the time I came along, electricity was the power source for the day. Coal still is mined and used in many areas, but, the Lackawanna County Coal Mine has been stripped of all it’s yield, and has become a museum, reminding us of times past. You can go in and look at all the steam locomotives. You can learn about how the mining was done. You can even go down into a real mine, if you are brave enough! It is a very interesting experience!

While reading my Bible the other day I was beginning to feel like one of those miners. Now I did not have to put on a hard had with a light. The Bible says IT is the light. Psalm 119:105 ‘Your Word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.’

I did not need to worry about my safety; Jude 1:24 – ESV: Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,

I did not miss out on the SUNlight because He is the SONlight. John 8:12 (ESV) I Am the Light of the World 12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

I did receive a huge amount of ‘pay’ for my work! It was not dangerous or tedious work, but it was work! I had to invest my time, and I often had to refer to other reference books and concordances to ‘mine’ all I could from the Bible passages I was studying. I know it was worth the effort because I have been able to learn how to live a quiet, peaceful life. I get along with my husband, I raised two productive sons (with my husbands help), I spend money wisely and I have not ever once been thrown in jail for not paying my bills, public drunkenness, tax evasion, or even a minor offense. I read in the Bible all of these infractions are avoidable by keeping the law, and by keeping the law your life hums along, rather than roll into every pot-hole and rut in an unpaved road. Now, for those of you who have had those problems, please don’t stop reading. God is the giver of ‘do-overs’, and there is no limit to the amount of times you can do a do-over’ again! He is in the forgive-rescue and restore business. He never will abandon anyone who makes the first move to Him!

Mining for coal was one way to make a living. A difficult way, no doubt. Mining the Bible for the treasure it holds is even more critical to our lives! This book has the power to keep people from eternal damnation-if we heed it! And eternal never ends!

Question; Are you mining in the Bible to glean some spiritual treasures? If not, why not? It’s not too late to start! Use one of the verses above, and dive in!