Kentucky Chaplain David Chaltas

They totaled nine miners in all. They had heard the sound of water and had seen the leakage around the closed portal. But none of them could have imagined the amount of pressure and millions of gallons of water that was about to explode into their shaft. You see, the miners had been directed to an area that had been previously mined and only a thin wall separated them from the fluid of life and death. Soon they would know.

The day had started like any other. The men talked of things above ground as they descended in their buggies to a depth of 1600 feet below ground. They laughed and played pranks on one another, all the while attentive to the dangerous task at hand. They knew the cost of a mistake. It came when an auger blew the wall and the water that had been a trickle was now an underwater sea storm. But the miners knew the sound and were able to seek higher ground. They began frantically following their training and making makeshift barricades to protect themselves from the ravages of the water. They pinged on the vents and anything metal so that rescuers would know their location. The sound of water and the sight of it slowly rising to engulf them were horrifying. They resigned themselves to conserving oxygen and lay beside each other praying.

The men on top knew the seriousness of the situation and began drilling a hole 1600’ deep in a frantic effort to save the men. They burrowed into the ground a 36” hole that would allow a bucket to be lowered into the dark abyss to save the trapped souls. The drilling was continuous and the men of mercy on top took turns working for over 3 days and nights to offer the men salvation.

Finally they broke through the last layer of rock, as they anxiously lowered the bucket deep into the pit and then it settled. For a brief moment everyone held their breath and said a silent prayer. Then from the depths of the mines came a ping, ping, ping and the loved ones on top erupted in jubilation! They had been lost but knew they were found! They were to live another day!

All nine miners came up from the mineshaft. All survived. The families rejoiced and praised God for His mercy. We are like those miners. We are lost in sin and God is working so hard to save us from the eternal darkness. Not one miner told the crane operators that they chose to stay where they were and die. ALL realized the seriousness of the moment and accepted the rescuing hand of salvation. Our soldiers have done it since the conception of death on the battlefield. Last rites are always afforded the dying. The last thing upon the lips of many is their earnest request for forgiveness and salvation. When will you realize that your Rescuer is waiting with outstretched arms, begging you to grab His hands and be lifted up from the pit of despair? When will be your hour of decision that the water is about to overtake you and you will succumb to death if you do not ask for help from one so willing to give it? Is today the day of your salvation? Won’t you seek Him with a repentant heart and find the peace that flows like a river and the joy that can never be explained? Such peace He offers. Such love He gives. Such is His forgiveness. The Rescuer waits for you to simply reach out to Him.

I remain your obedient servant, the Old General