On Anzac day 2006, three Tasmanians were mining one kilometre deep in the heart of a gold mine, when an earthquake dislodged a massive fall of rock.
Three men were trapped: one was killed in the fall, while the other two were imprisoned in a steel cage, locked in by a solid wall of rock. No word was received by the loved ones for four days. This is a parable of the human family: when Adam and Eve sinned against the Lord, mankind fell from grace. They (we) were cut off from the Lord; and completely isolated. Death entered into our history. We were trapped in a cage of our fallen nature; unholy habits estranged us from our Lord.

When the infra-red camera explored the rock fall, one body was detected, while, amazingly, it revealed two survivors, trapped in their steel cage. Beaconsfield cheered as hope soared, as though the whole town had been resuscitated. Indeed, it stirred all Australia. When the Lord Jesus returned to heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit searching for His lost creation, as a shepherd searched for His lost sheep. The Spirit of God penetrated the gloom more effectively than any infra-red, revealing our lost state, being hopeless, confined, paralysed. We depend on His piercing gaze.

The two survivors were in total darkness, without food, catching water, seeping through the rocks, and therefore with high mineral content. The strategy to reach them would be accomplished by teams of men, pressurised for several hours, and relieved immediately, necessitating continuous assault on the rocky impasse. We walk in darkness when we are estranged from our Lord. No spiritual nourishment is possible; and even life-giving water may be saturated with this world's sickening flavour. Only a sustained offensive on the rocky encirclement will release us.

A circular tunnel was chiselled through to the survivors, inserting a plumber's PVC tube, in which light food, bottles of water, deodorant, a digital camera, and iPods for comforting music were passed. Also they heard the welcome sound of rescuers' voices, first time for nearly a week. Their spirits lifted. When God's people suffer persecution or imprisonment, the Spirit of God, as through a conduit, provides spiritual food, endurance and comfort for those who suffer. Mr Yun, the heavenly man from the Chinese underground church, was sustained miraculously in prison.

Behind the scenes, intercessory prayer facilitated the amazing sequence of events as the pastor of the Uniting church kept an open church and a constant vigil.
Commentators from the television crews often reminded Australia of the need of prayer for the Lord's assistance in releasing the underground prisoners. Our Prime Minister also appealed for prayer. 'Before you call, I will answer, and while you are yet speaking, I will hear' is a mighty promise of our prayer-answering God. A lone saint of God was photographed, kneeling and praying in the front of the mine. The Australian nation was alerted to call on the Name of the Lord.

Rock impeded the advance of the rescuers, warranting a diamond-cutting machine, imported from interstate, whose bulk demanded that it be set in concrete, which must cure before it could be used,. The relays of miners proceeded cautiously, so as not to precipitate further rock falls. They repeatedly predicted "a further 48 hours" because of the hazards. Often the Spirit of God has cut through the flint-like hearts of men and women, softening them, producing the gracious gentleness of our Lord Jesus. HE alone can rescue the perishing, regardless of the obstacles.

God's Word is explosive and consuming, Jeremiah wrote, 'Is not My word like fire? says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks (or shatters) the rock in pieces?' No one is too hard for the Lord- no one!

The rock was 5 times tougher than concrete, demanding the rescuers adopt a new approach. Rather than drilling, the rescuers used highly refined explosives, which would not endanger the men trapped nor their rescuers. They designed a circular tunnel one metre in diameter and 7 metres long. Then, estimating they were beneath the trapped miners, they diverted to a vertical tunnel right under the steel cage. The men cut a hole in their protective cage, sliding down the tunnel into the arms of the rescuing miners. They were now liberated from the prison of 14 days. Their cage will be for all time entombed in that impasse. They were driven by a convoluted tunnel to 300 metres below the mine surface and then by elevator the remaining distance. Alive! Free! Praise the Lord! Redeemed. Relieved. Cheers!

Consider how 'If the Son shall make you free, you shall be free in deed.' Christ was crucified, imprisoned in the tomb for us, before ascending to heaven; granting us total freedom, our Mediator at the throne. He had impeccable virtues.

When the men walked free from their entombment into the open, they embraced their wives as men alive from the dead. Then their children, one little boy hugging his daddy, clinging still to his teddy bear. Their parents came. What joy, relief, floods of tears, while onlookers cheered. Ambulances bore them to the central hospital for routine examinations while rejoicing, applauding friends lined the road.
I recalled the evangelistic campaigns of Billy and Franklyn Graham; and newly-converted rejoicing with their friends, born again, pardoned, alive, in Christ Jesus.

Both miners discharged themselves from hospital (amazingly fit after such ordeal) to attend the Service for their comrade, who perished in the rock fall. Twenty members of the God Squad, mounted on Harley Davidsons led the procession to the Central Baptist church, Launceston, Tasmania's capital. Worshippers grieved for the man of God, who had passed into the Lord's Presence, and thanked the Lord for the preservation of those kept by God's grace. If God should call you in an emergency, are you saved by His precious blood; and thus ready to meet your Lord?

They planned a Thanksgiving service (not reported in the media) to magnify the Lord's mercy, that endures for ever. Remember our Lord Jesus, King and Sustainer of creation and beloved Saviour told parables to drive home heavenly thoughts.