Why go for the gold?
Whether you are an Olympian or trying to win a championship ring, from the youngest of age an athlete is sold on pursuing the Gold. Why? Have you ever wondered what makes Gold so special?
Is it a coincidence that Gold is spelled so close to God? I found no connection when it comes to the spelling, so the answer to that question seems to be yes, but it appears there is a significant connection when you take a closer look.
From the beginning in Genesis 2:12 God makes it clear Gold is set apart as He declared “And the gold of the land is good.” God not only begins with Gold, He ends with Gold as well. God make is pretty clear in Haggai 2:8, “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts. In Revelations 21, the city and the streets in Heaven are described of being made in pure Gold, as clear as glass.
Gold represents God because, like gold, He doesn’t change in luster. It is the most sought after of all the valuable metals found on earth. There is no known natural substance that can destroy gold. It can be dissolved by chemical means, but even then, it remains as gold. Fire only purifies it more!
Because of its special properties, gold plays a prominent role throughout Scripture. It is mentioned over 450 times, more than any other metal. It often symbolizes God’s own regality, preciousness, immortality, holiness, and glory. It is held in high regard for the strength of its value, purity, and resilience. It also represents Kingship and is a great reminder of who we are as heirs to the King.
God gave gold many properties that make it so valuable. It does not rust or tarnish. Gold can be alloyed to other metals, like copper, to add strength without losing beauty. Gold essentially last forever.
The problem occurs when Gold becomes your God. So many people sacrifice their families and chase Gold over God. The one thing that I have found over 30 plus years of coaching is that you don’t seek wins, fame, and gold rings. Those blessing are a byproduct of chasing Jesus. You want to get consumed quickly and lose your family and joy for coaching, then chase the Gold. If you want to see God blow your mind and do amazing things in your life, then chase God with all you have.
Photo by Charles Deluvio on Unsplash