Deep Down Dark

Father, I pray that those who joined in our services will take to heart the words they heard. Move through us all, I pray.

Romans 4:18-25 (<<click here to read the passage)

October 13, 2010 – Does that day hold any significance for you? Do you remember anything occurring on that day that stands out as “earth-shaking”?

As I read through today’s passage from the end of Romans 4, its core message – hope – resonated through me and I truly believe the Lord brought an incident to mind…from October 13, 2010.

The story is taken from an NPR article entitled The Incredible Story of Chilean Miners Rescued From The ‘Deep Down Dark’. (<<click to read the article)

The disaster began…around lunchtime at a mine in Chile’s Atacama Desert: Miners working deep inside a mountain, excavating for copper, gold and other minerals, started feeling vibrations. Suddenly, there was a massive explosion and the passageways of the mine filled up with a gritty dust cloud.

A 770,000-ton “megablock” of stone had come crashing down through the layers of the mine bringing tons of rock with it. Thirty-three miners were trapped.

It seemed hopeless. These men were entombed under half a mile of rock, but neither they nor their families gave up hope. In fact, the families gathered in a makeshift tent city called Campo Esperanza — “Camp Hope”.

Their families endured this ordeal for 52 days, not truly knowing if their loved ones lived. But on that day, a drill finally broke through to “The Refuge,” the room where the men were gathered. When the drill returned to the surface tied to its bit was a note that read: “WE ARE WELL IN THE REFUGE [SIGNED] THE 33.”

Seventeen days later – October 13, 2010 – all 33 of those miners – after being trapped for 69 days – were raised to the surface through an escape tunnel into which a capsule was slowly lowered and raised by a giant crane. It was a feat of engineering and a triumph of faith.

Amazing is not a big enough word!

That story is amazing but not as amazing as the story spoken of in today’s text!

Almost 4,000 years ago, a man named Abraham, clung to hope. He had been promised by God…

…that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.

Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. vs18-22 NLT

My Life Application Bible states, Abraham never doubted that God would fulfill his promise. Abraham’s life was marked by mistakes, sins, and failures (Can you relate?!) as well as by wisdom and goodness, but he consistently trusted God. His faith was strengthened by the obstacles he faced, and his life was an example of faith in action. If he had looked only at his own resources for subduing and founding a nation, he would have given up in despair. But Abraham looked to God, obeyed him, and waited for God to fulfill his word.

Do not give up! God’s promises hold true! If you’ve placed your hope in God, He will not fail you! We will experience our triumph of faith in Him from the deep down dark!

Nov 13^th, 2022, Sun, 3:43 pm