Seeing God's Grace in the Chilean Mine Rescue

The world was captivated by the Chilean mine rescue. 33 men trapped more than a half mile underground, rescued by the resources, commitment and ingenuity of others, after surviving through discipline, perseverance and God's amazing grace. Many of the miners seemed to be spiritually transformed by the experience, giving praise and honor to God and describing how they reached out for God in the midst of their dark pit. Several mentioned their intention of leading new, God-honoring lives.

Here are several quotes from the British newspaper, The Mirror:

Luis Urzua, 54, revealed the men were in panic as the meagre food supplies almost ran out in their harrowing first 17 days in the underground hellhole.

. . . .

The miners famously then tied Ojeda's piece of paper to the drill with a written message reading: "All 33 of us are fine in the shelter." Two days later, Urzua spoke to Chilean president Sebastian Pinera on the phone and told him: "Under a sea of rock, we are waiting for the whole of Chile to pull hard so that we can be taken out of this hell."

The president replied: "I know that it has been hell, but it is a hell that has meant for our country a resurrection in spirit, in strength, in hope."

Urzua said: "I had enough strength to talk to the workers, telling them what was happening. Those who had faith hoped someday we could be rescued."

The imagery of the experience parallels the plight of all humanity. We are all trapped in a dark pit of sin, despair and eternal hopelessness. We are unable to escape on our own and are destined to perish in the hell. Yet, out of love and compassion for us, God made a way into the pit to rescue us from the darkness and lead us out into the light. Jesus came from the light of heaven and opened the door to heaven for hopelessly lost people.

Jesus calls us to trust Him and climb into His rescue pod of salvation. He did the work that was impossible for us to do by offering Himself as the perfect sacrificial lamb, exchanging His righteousness for our sinfulness in order to pay the price for our freedom and cloak us in His holiness. He asks us to trust Him and then to live for Him after He has freed us from our hopeless pit.

The Chilean miners now face the difficult task of living out the transformations that occurred in their lives during this rescue. Will they follow through? We face the same question. Will we live lives worthy of the rescue that God accomplished for our lives? Will we continually bring honor and praise to Him, because He made a way for us when are condition was hopeless? May it be and may the world see and take note, as it has done with these rescued miners.