Be Prepared and Willing to Step In

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;” 1 Peter 3:15 NKJV

In a story published yesterday by The Marlow Review, the following was reported:

In a heroic act of compassion and courage, Chadell Atkinson, a registered nurse and Marlow resident, played a pivotal role in saving a fellow runner's life during the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon this past weekend.

As runners made their way through the grueling course, one participant suddenly collapsed, prompting immediate concern among those nearby. Without hesitation, Atkinson and an Oklahoma City firefighter, who was also racing, rushed to the scene. Together, they performed life-saving CPR until emergency medical personnel arrived.

Thanks to their quick actions, the collapsed runner regained a pulse and was transported to a local hospital for further treatment. After ensuring the runner received help, Atkinson demonstrated remarkable resilience by continuing to complete her own marathon.

The incident serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of being prepared and willing to step in during emergencies. Atkinson’s bravery and commitment to her fellow runners highlight the spirit of community and support that the marathon embodies.

"And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:15

" He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.'" John 3:36

And, you know, when it comes to being “prepared and willing to step in” during emergencies, the most urgent and dire situation we could ever find a person in is the state of unbelief. You see, while most people think death is the end, death is truly only the beginning—since a person will either spend eternity in heaven or in hell after their final breath here... a decision that's determined by the choice they make before they die to either accept Jesus as their Savior or to reject Him. 

This is the very reason that every believer must "sanctify the Lord God" in their hearts and "always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks" them a reason for the hope that is in them, "with meekness and fear." This call to "always be ready" is a reminder that the opportunity to tell someone about the hope of the resurrection and eternal life that's found only in Jesus Christ might come unexpectedly and might only come once. 

Because of this, every believer must be prepared to speak about their faith, knowing that their testimony and transformed life will provoke further questions. In turn, they must be prepared to give a rational, spoken reason for their faith, based on biblical facts and not just their feelings. 

Furthermore, the tone of our sharing is critical. We must be humble and respectful, rather than aggressive or argumentative, always remembering that this spiritual CPR (think Critical explanation of your Personal Relationship), if done right, has the power to save a person's soul. 

So, be ready and willing to step in when you see someone in need of spiritual CPR my friend. Doing so could very well determine where that person spends eternity. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that the way that we live is very important since our total devotion to You, in the easy times and especially in the hard times, is one of the very things that compels unbelievers to ask us about the hope we have that’s only found in You. Help is to be ready and all times to answer their questions in such a way that the lost are compelled to seek You. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!