Are you trained to perform CPR?  Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation can help save a life during a cardiac or breathing emergency.  Even though a CPR certification lasts for two years, I try to take a class each year just to be sure I’m prepared in case of an emergency.  You never know when someone may need the procedure.  Ask the parents of a little 3-year-old named Brayden.

Little Brayden suffered a seizure and a high fever leaving him unconscious.  His distraught father called 911 and told the operator: “My son is not breathing."

The 911 operator dispatched paramedics to the scene: a KFC restaurant in Granbury, TX.  Police Officer Chase Miller was nearby.  He heard the dispatch and rushed to the scene.  The dash cam on Miller’s police car captured the event as Miller carefully received Brayden’s limp body from his terrified mother.  Miller placed him on the ground and began CPR.  As he was performing the procedure, Miller instructed Brayden’s father on how to do the chest compressions so that he could retrieve a CPR mask from his vehicle.  Miller returned to the boy and continued CPR as the child’s helpless parents watched.

Then, suddenly, Brayden began breathing again!  He was taken to a hospital for evaluation.  He fully recovered.

Officer Miller saved his life.

Earlier this week on Tuesday, Granbury Mayor Nin Hulett presented Miller with a lifesaving award.  There to greet him was the precious little boy he rescued: Brayden. *

Not only is it good for us to know CPR, the truth is we all need CPR.  I’m not referring now to a medical emergency, but I am talking about a “life-or-death” situation.  Let me explain…

Our sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2) and “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).  In our sin, we desperately need someone to come to our rescue!

And Jesus did.

Jesus Christ "gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father” (Galatians 1:4 NIV).

Only Jesus could do that because He was and is the sinless Son of God.  He paid the price for our sins to rescue us from them, giving us eternal life instead of the eternal destruction that sin brings (Romans 6:23).

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

CPR can also stand for “Christ Provides Rescue” for all who will accept His offer of salvation and eternal life on His terms.