Earthwork

For someone who works as a civil engineer and is involved in construction, I’m pretty familiar with earthwork. For those that don’t know, earthwork is just a fancy engineering term for the movement of dirt and rock. I spent A LOT of time in 4.5 years of college learning all about different kinds of soil and rock. Much different than geology (the study of rocks), which many people call “rocks for jocks,” civil engineers have to consider the weight of rock along with the density and saturation of soil when performing basic earthwork calculations. [As a side note, geology is NOT “rocks for jocks” and anyone who ever took (or will take) that class can attest to it.] If you’d like to learn more about the fascinating world of earthwork calculations, please take a seat and wait for your number to be called. So…who’s going to be #1?

Civil engineers are responsible for many projects involving earthwork, but our lineage is derived from earthwork engineered completely by God. God created Adam from the dust of the Earth (Genesis 2:7). When Adam (like Eve) chose to eat from the tree of forbidden fruit, God reminded him where he came from and promised him he would return there. God says in Genesis 3:19, “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

Whenever we think we can make it on our own; God humbles the proud as a reminder of who is really in control. God’s original engineered paradise for humans was lost in the Garden of Eden due to the willfulness of human sin, but God remained in control. Thanks to Jesus, we are saved from God’s wrath, but there is plenty of spiritual earthwork left to do. The story of Adam reminds us of what happens when our plans contradict God’s plans. We don’t have to be civil engineers to do God’s work here on Earth, but we should listen to God’s calling for our lives. If it’s unclear now, God may ask you to take a seat because your number could be next!

-Jacob

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