Like Gold

Through what Jesus did for us on the cross, we can actually know Him - we can have a relationship with the God of the Universe, because He sent His Son to give His life and to rise from the dead. We have the capacity to walk in His ways, as we are directed in Psalm 19:
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

When we consider what the Lord has done, the series of events we observe on this Good Friday, we can be reminded of what an incredible story that actually is. Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth in order that He could take our place on the cross.  He is risen from the dead and sent His Spirit so that we can walk a life that is surrendered - crucified - to Him and that is filled with the power of His resurrection. That is an amazing, precious story, and day by day we can seek His face and follow in His ways.

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God directs us not to be consumed by the riches of this world, but to seek the true riches that are from heaven. To the lukewarm church at Laodicea, the Lord gives this exhortation:

18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

Todd Hoffman is a real-life gold miner, but he has discovered something even more valuable than gold - a relationship with Jesus Christ.  He has discovered God's true gold that will never pass away.  The Hoffman family was featured in a series on Discovery Channel called Gold Rush, and they are back on that cable network with Hoffman Family Gold, according to a Christian Headlines piece.

The article states:

In a recent interview with The Christian Post, Todd shared that while talking to Discovery about the new series, he stressed the importance of showcasing his family's faith on the show.

"We think we have something to share where our faith can shine through," he told the outlet. "We don't want this to be a dark reality show where people throw wrenches at each other."

Hoffman, a devout Christian, also told Discovery to allow his family to encourage other people, including non-believers, in the new show.

"If you guys can agree to allow us to pray. If you guys can agree to allow us to be us, and on TV encourage everybody in the world, not just Christians, anybody. They said, 'You know what? We're game. We want you guys back, the Hoffmans back,'" he shared.

The Christian Post article relates that:

Hoffman first went mining with his father when he was a teenager. It was something that his father dreamed about. The family took the chance in 2008-2009 when gold began increasing in value and skyrocketed during the recession. This led to the launch of “Gold Rush” on the Discovery Channel in 2010.

He says that he came to know Christ when he was "young," but that it was "cemented" when he was around 15 or 16 years of age. He thought at one time that he would become a youth pastor, but he believed that, in his words, “My faith took me into the business world..."

In 2018, the original TV show ended, but Todd had a chance to showcase his singing skills. On his Facebook page, he wrote:

I was asked to sing for an online trailer for an incredible movie, "I Can Only Imagine," coming out March 16th. Please share this video with your friends and family. It's about the relationship between father and son.

He added, "I’m leaving Gold Rush. I’m so blessed by God. My next chapter is singing and producing TV for the family."

On this Good Friday, we can make sure that we are mining the riches of God's love and truth. The cross stands as a reminder of not only our sinfulness, but of the Savior who died for us. He invites us to accept Him in salvation and to enter into a relationship with Himself.  We are called to grow into the Christian life and to discover more about Him.  

Todd's story can also cause us to think about the call of God on our lives.  His involvement in the mining industry has been used of God to develop a platform through which He can share His faith in Christ. We can be encouraged and motivated to be a light, to allow the light of Christ to shine through us, right where we are.