A very innovative silver mine: Venus Mill
"Such God-denying people are never content with what they have or who they
are; their greed drives them relentlessly. They plunder everything but they
can't hold on to any of it. Just when they think they have it all, disaster
strikes; they're served up a plate full of misery." (Job 20:20-22 The Message)
For every action, there is a reaction. Everything we do in life has
consequences, some positive, some catastrophic. The Klondike Gold Rush was no
different.
Although some of the prospective miners were driven by a sense of adventure and
by the desire to explore and see new things, many were driven by greed and were
ruthless in their methods of obtaining gold.
Primitive mining methods, such as digging sediments by hand from stream banks
and underground tunnels, seemed harmless enough; but these left extensive damage
to the stream and river beds. When the larger mines were established, hillsides
and entire mountains were plundered and silt and mud filled the waterways.
Forests were completely stripped in order to supply timber for building boats
and for feeding the fires needed to melt the sediments.
As the twentieth century rolled around, the richest and most easily accessed
gold deposits had already been depleted, and harsher, more destructive
machinery, designed to reach the deeper deposits and process the sediment
faster, was brought in. High-pressure hoses completely knocked down hills in the
ruthless search, and huge dredges reworked entire waterways. The destruction was
colossal.
This total loss of natural habitat resulted in annihilation of both land and
aquatic wildlife. In addition, an overabundance of mercury, which was used to
process the gold, can still be found in the Yukon. It has made its way up the
food chain and still accumulates in fish and other wildlife in alarming
concentrations, resulting in health risks among humans and animals alike.
The ones who suffered the most from extensive destruction were the first
nation's people, including the Tagish, the Tutchone, and the Tlingit. Because of
its massive mountain ranges, ice fields, harsh terrain, and wild rivers, the
Yukon had always been extremely hard to access; and before the gold rush, these
First Nations groups had been quite isolated from the outside world. No wonder
the Yukon was considered the last unexplored and unmapped region in North
America!
With the influx of white man seeking gold, all of this changed. Miners brought
diseases that the first peoples had no immunity to, and in many areas, entire
tribes were wiped out. Hunting and fishing grounds were destroyed, making food
sources scarce, and what wildlife remained was laced with high concentrations of
mercury. Some of the natives worked as packers or as suppliers of wood for
steamboats. They were unaccustomed to cash however, and few ever profited. Their
traditional lifestyle was lost forever.
Friends, everything we do, everything we say, and even everything we think can
have dire consequences. In fact, I have never met anyone who could assure me
that all of his or her actions have always had positive consequences.
Except one.
The one who lovingly died on the cross to bring salvation to this world.
He encouraged us with the following words: "Your eye is a lamp, lighting up your
whole body. If you live wide-eyed in wonder and belief, your body fills up with
light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank
cellar. Keep your eyes open, your lamp burning, so you don't get musty and
murky. Keep your life as well-lighted as your best-lighted room." (Luke 11:34-36
The Message)
The problem is, none of us have ever been able to keep a "well-lighted" life all
of the time! Our actions speak much more loudly than our words, and past
memories are often contemplated with regret: "For all have sinned and fall short
of the glory of God." (Rom 3:23 NIV) Some of us anticipate with terror the end
of our earthly life: "Everyone has to die once, then face the consequences."
(Heb 9:27 The Message)
The Good News is that the consequences don't have to be dire. The One who lived
an exemplary life has provided salvation for you. All you have to do is accept
His offer: "Christ's death was also a one-time event, but it was a sacrifice
that took care of sins forever. And so, when he next appears, the outcome for
those eager to greet him is, precisely, salvation." (Heb 9:28 The Message)
"Since we've compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them)
and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills
for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing
with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to
where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ. God
sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin. Having
faith in him sets us in the clear. God decided on this course of action in full
view of the public - to set the world in the clear with himself through the
sacrifice of Jesus, finally taking care of the sins he had so patiently endured.
This is not only clear, but it's now - this is current history! God sets things
right. He also makes it possible for us to live in his rightness." (Rom 3:23-26
The Message)
It's an offer worth considering, don't you think? The beneficial consequences of
accepting this offer will last throughout eternity!
Or perhaps you would prefer to eat some mercury-laced fish?
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.