May, 2020
Good morning,
Just 40 miles south of Louisville, via Highway 31, you'll find yourself at the United States Bullion Depository—you and I call it Fort Knox, the largest stockpile of gold in the world.
In the simplest of terms, Fort Knox is an elaborate vault housing 4,580 tons of gold, give or take an ounce. This massive deposit of precious metal dwarfs all other gold reserves. By comparison, the gold in Fort Knox is equal to the gold bullion of the next three richest countries combined.
To the criminally elite, robbing Fort Knox represents the ultimate challenge.
If all this sounds a little déjà vu, you may be flashing back to the mastermind plot of Auric Goldfinger—the rotund, filthy rich psychopath who concocted a devilish plan to break into Fort Knox, detonate a 'dirty bomb' and contaminate America's gold supply. Thankfully, Agent 007, Britain's top secret agent, was vacationing in America at the time and was able to thwart Goldfinger's dastardly plan.
All that high-finance excitement stirred my curiosity—just how secure is America's gold reserves? I mean, if one crazy guy can come that close to the world's greatest gold supply—by the way, thanks for your help, James Bond—maybe our country's gold might be more secure in a coffee can and kept out behind the garage. I mean, after all!
(Calm down, Ron. It was just a movie!)
Truth is; there was a time when America's bullion was exceedingly vulnerable because it was stored in multiple, less secure locations—New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and elsewhere. However, in 1936, as Nazi aggression was expanding through Europe, congress decided our gold and other historical treasures needed a safer home, deeper within the nation's interior.
And that brings us back to Fort Knox, Kentucky.
The US army packed up most of the nation's gold, and some of our most cherished national treasures—the original Constitution of the United States, Declaration of Independence, Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, a Gutenberg Bible, among others—and carted them off to the intersection of Gold Vault Road and Bullion Blvd.
America's gold and iconic treasures were finally safe. However, if you're picturing one of those fireproof SentrySafe models you've seen at Costco, think again!
The 4,000 square foot vault of Fort Knox is like none other.
To begin, a razor wire perimeter and explosive minefields surround the vault. High-resolution night vision video cameras and highly sensitive microphones monitor the entire grounds. The outer shell is a granite covered concrete structure. The subterranean, bombproof vault is made of steel plates, I-beams and cylinders encased in concrete. The vault door is 21 inches thick, weighs 20 tons, and is torch and drill resistant, as are the 25 inch-thick two story vault walls.
The men and women who protect the famed depository are members of an elite team—the United States Mint Police Force.
However, as impressive as Fort Knox's golden riches are, they pale by comparison to the calling God has placed on our lives and our ministry. For example:
- We have been called to "preach the word." Why? Because "His [words] are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold."
- We have been called to "find wisdom," and to share it. Why? Because "… wisdom is more precious than jewels and nothing you desire compares with it."
- We have been called to live according to "the law of His mouth." Why? Because "it is better than thousands of gold and silver pieces."
- We have been called to "endure trials; and be tested by fire." Why? Because "the proof of your faith is more precious than gold."
- We have been called to maintain a good reputation. Why? Because "a good name is more desired than great riches and favor is better than silver and gold."
You and I are members of an elite force—handpicked by God to guard His church, protect His people and teach His riches.
What an honor that is!
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