Unsearchable Riches of Poverty Gulch

Uncertainty of Riches

In the late 1800s men came to Augusta mountain in hopes of unsearchable riches of gold. They built an Ariel tram to bring loads of gold and silver ore down the mountain. But a snow slide destroyed the system before they were able to use it.

 

By 1910 the Augusta Mine project ended. The battle with snow slides and limited amounts of ore likely resulted in the name “Poverty Gulch” for the steep-sided ravine.

History can remind us of the uncertainty of material riches compared to the unsearchable riches of Christ (Ephesians 3:8).

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

1 Timothy 6:17

Surrounded by the Speech of God

Though the miners project failed, they could have walked away spiritually rich. They were surrounded by the speech of God in His creation proclaiming His glory.

Rejoice in the Hope of God, Trained By Hardship

Some of the miners may have improved their skills for God’s glory and moved on to do more than they imagined. They may have been satisfied to know that the gold and silver that they extracted will be used someday to proclaim the glory of the Lord (Revelations 21:24, Isaiah 60:6). Endurance and character gained through suffering in the project may have produced hope.

…we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Romans 5:2b-5

Cross shape in the Rock Slope by a Cleansing Waterfall

Maybe some miners came to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior while living on the mountainside. Gaining Christ far exceeds any loss in material wealth.

For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him

Philippians 3:8b-9a

I might prefer to call the place, “Cross of Christ Gulch” to remind people of the unsearchable riches of Christ (Ephesians 3:8) who made the Gulch (John 1:3). There is a cross shape in the rock next to a cleansing waterfall. These features can remind us of Christ’s work on the cross, the source of hope.

If we walk in the light as he is in the light … the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin

1 John 1:17

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness

1 Peter 2:24a

To know Jesus Christ, is to have the unsearchable riches of Christ. It would be enough to have forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Colossians 1:13-14). But the associated list of riches is endless. For example, in Christ “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). And He has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).”

Christ’s Poverty For Our Sake

One could also consider this Gulch with a cross as a reminder of Christ’s poverty for our sake, so we might become rich.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich

2 Corinthians 8:9

The Whole Gulch is Filled With His Glory

No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11). The whole earth is filled with His glory (Isaiah 6:3), even more so in the future.

For the earth will be filled  with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Habakkuk 2:14

Christ’s creation of Poverty Gulch is filled with  unsearchable riches. Who can fully understand their existence and significance? All are testimonies of wisdom that we can ask the Holy Spirit to teach us as we find connections with the Word. Hover over the lower portion of each photo to see a caption.

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.

Isaiah 40:28