All of CreationSample

Mountains and Minerals: The Peaks and Possessions We Prize

Have you ever seen mountains from a distance? The land around you is flat; then you notice something appear on the horizon. As you get closer, what you thought might be a cloud or a hill starts to come into focus. With every step, the mountains get bigger and bigger. And if you venture up them, you might find yourself looking down at clouds of fog beneath you. Or maybe you’ve visited a cave or a cavern and seen stalactites (the ones that hang down) and stalagmites (the ones that stick up) and been amazed at God’s hidden creativity. Think about all the beautiful things God has buried in the ground, just waiting for us to discover. Diamonds and gemstones are some of the most expensive things in the world, but they’re natural wonders made by God.

Where are these amazing things found? In mountains and mines!

There are a few different ways mountains show up in the world, but they are all related to tectonic plates in one way or another. Tectonic plates are different sections of the earth’s crust and upper mantle that float on top of the liquid magma (melted rock) near the earth’s core.

When two different plates smash into each other like a car crash in slow motion, they buckle up into mountain ranges. The Appalachian Mountains formed in this way. The tectonic plate that’s forced under gets melted and becomes part of the earth’s mantle again.

A more jaw-dropping way mountains are formed is through volcanic activity. As tectonic plates move away from each other, magma rises from the cracks and cools as crystals to form igneous rocks. Over time, these rocks grow into volcanic mountains.

There are incredible forces at work in the clashing crust and flowing lava of mountain making. Just as amazing are the more subtle, hidden mechanisms behind the formation of gemstones—rubies, sapphires, opals, malachite, diamonds, and peridots, to name a few—and minerals underground.

Many times in Scripture, God’s people had to hide in the cliffs and caves of mountains when they were in danger. In Psalm 121, the psalm writer looked up to the hills for a reminder that his help comes from the Lord.

God Himself is compared to the mountains as our refuge and strong shelter. (Psalm 125:2) Yet God is greater and sturdier than the most solid mountain range.

Silver, sapphires, opals, and gold—all the precious metals and gems—were made in the earliest days of creation, watched over personally by God. For the one-of-a-kind crystals to grow, each mineral required specific conditions and ingredients: the right mixture of elements, intense pressure, high temperatures, space, and time. John 1:3 says, “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” God is the melder of minerals and knows the location of each deposit. How awesome is He to hide beautiful things in the ground for us to discover!

Have you ever found a particularly sparkly rock or stone on the playground or in a park? Maybe you showed it off to your friends or took it home to add to your rock collection. Minerals and gemstones are one of the most dazzling parts of God’s creation. Sometimes Christians worry that when we appreciate the beauty in this world, we may be tempted to worship nature instead of its Creator. We can avoid this by remembering that God is way more awesome than anything He’s created. Beauty in nature points to its Maker. We can simply say thanks to Him! Then show our gratitude by holding our earthly treasures with open hands—happy not only to show and tell but to share.

Precious gems and metals also teach us something about a beauty that outlasts world leaders and kingdoms, hidden away to be discovered only when someone starts digging. It’s a lot like how God designed His kingdom to work. Matthew 13:44 says, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” Consider the treasure in this metaphor. Could it be a collection of rubies or other gems buried and discovered in a field?

The treasures of the kingdom of God—salvation, God’s promises to always love and forgive us, the home He’s preparing for us in the future—are like gemstones in how long they last and how much they’re worth. Gems and precious metals are almost indestructible and last for centuries. Other resources rust or wear out and can be compared to the stuff of this world that eventually breaks. Just think about how quickly electronics break down—and those are made with some of the precious metals we’re talking about! But the treasures of God’s kingdom will always outshine and outlast (Matthew 6:19–21).

We adapted this plan from the book, “All of Creation” by Betsy Painter. Learn more here: All of Creation - Zonderkidz