The old gold mine in Kirkland Lake in northern Ontario still operates today as it did when this story occurred in 1962. It started as just an ordinary day for my cousin Russell, but it was a day that affected him for the rest of his life. The Bible warns us about the uncertainty of life: “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth” (Proverbs 27:11Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. (Proverbs 27:1)).
Twelve men rode down the mine shaft 4,000 feet into the earth that day. Russell and Richard were the only two working together on a compressed-air drill. They were drilling holes in which they would place dynamite.
Russell watched the drill bite into the rock. Suddenly the mine shaft roared. The sides, the top, everything caved in! He was crushed into a sitting position with his chin pressed to his chest. His hard hat saved his head from being crushed, and its brim made an air pocket in the dirt around his face. He could barely breathe, and he could move only the fingers on his right hand. He could hear rocks still falling. Then the only noise was the hiss of the broken air line to the drill.
Now, does that sound like a helpless position to you? Do you know the Bible says we are in a worse condition than that if we aren’t saved from our sins? One verse says that sinners are “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:11And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; (Ephesians 2:1)).
What did Russell need now? A shovel? No, there was no way he could use a shovel if he had one. He needed a rescuer to save him. He could not get out by his own efforts. This is why the Bible says, “By grace are ye saved . . . not of works” (Ephesians 2:8-98For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8‑9)). We are more helpless than Russell was. We need a Saviour to save us from our sins.
Russell thought, Nobody even knows about me. He prayed, “Oh God, please hear me and save me.” He wondered if the collapsed mine shaft might be his tomb.
But the other miners were aware that there had been a cave-in. And God knows all about our need to be rescued from our sins too. “From heaven did the Lord behold the earth; to hear the groaning of the prisoner [sinner]; to loose those that are appointed to death” (Psalm 102:19-2019For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the Lord behold the earth; 20To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death; (Psalm 102:19‑20)). Thank God He knows and cares and has done something about it. He sent a Saviour.
Time dragged for Russell. It seemed like days had gone by. Then he heard men digging with machines through the rock. He sat there trapped in his vise of rock, now filled with new hope. But nearly blotting it out was his terrible thirst. He bit his tongue so blood would moisten his mouth.
He shouted when the men were quiet. They could hear him, but they couldn’t understand him. With his dry mouth and swollen tongue he couldn’t talk properly. But God hears the cry of a sinner plainly. “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear” (Isaiah 59:11Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: (Isaiah 59:1)). Remember, too, that in Matthew 141At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, (Matthew 14:1) when Peter began to sink in the waves he cried, “Lord, save me!”, and Jesus heard him in spite of the wind and crashing waves. “Immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him” (Matthew 14:3131And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? (Matthew 14:31)). And He will hear you too if you will call to Him to save you from your sins.
What a glad sight the rescuers were to Russell as they broke through to him. Do you think he asked them to come back another day? No, he wanted to be saved right then! And I’m sure he loved them for the costly and dangerous work they had done to save him! Will you let the Saviour save you right now?
In the hospital they told Russell that the crushed body of his fellow worker, Richard, had been found. Russell felt fortunate. He had been trapped underground for 58 hours, but he was alive.
I don’t know if my cousin Russell ever thanked God for preserving him. Have you thanked God for the Saviour He sent?
ML-09/03/1995