Protect Yourself
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| Used in Grading and Excavator Contracting Blog 2008 |
“What is the first thing you do in an emergency?” She asked again. “What is the first thing you do in an emergency?” The class shouted back, “Call 911!”
It felt like Boot Camp. After four and one-half hours of CPR and First-Aid training, we were shouting answers back to the instructor. The drill was to engrave automatic responses in our mind so that in an emergency, we could act automatically. Saving someone’s life would depend on this ingrained response.
Once the person doing CPR on a victim has called 911 or had a bystander call 911, a barrier must be placed over the victim’s nose and mouth before beginning this life-saving technique. Because saliva, blood, and other bodily fluids can contain HIV or various forms of Hepatitis, a barrier protects both the person giving CPR and the one receiving it.
What if a person doesn’t carry one of the recommended barriers such as a mask, foil face shields, or one of the other devices sold online and in medical supply stores? We are instructed to improvise. Use disposable gloves with a way for the air to pass through to the victim. If the rescuer has nothing, then it is recommended that he or she just do the chest compressions. That is the importance placed on protecting one’s self. Don’t do the mouth-to-mouth part of CPR.
Protecting yourself ranks right up there next to calling 911. Then begin all the life-saving steps. With concerns about the prevalence of disease in our society, it is wise to protect one’s self. This seems like common sense from a physical and medical standpoint.
But I began to wonder if we apply the same principles in a spiritual situation?
- Call 911–Call on the name of the Lord
- Protect Ourselves–Put up spiritual and physical barriers to protect ourselves from the world’s influence.
What do spiritual barriers look like? Against what are we protecting ourselves?
Spiritual barriers include prayer, engraved knowledge of God’s Word, a relationship with Jesus, and that check in our conscience that something is wrong with the situation in which we find ourselves. Sometimes, there’s a sense in our spirit that something is holding us back.
Why are we putting up this barrier? As Paul says in Galatians, “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21 NIV.
When we get that check in our spirit, we can ignore the red flag, push aside what we know from God’s Word, choose to NOT call out to God, or fool ourselves into thinking we can handle the situation. Those choices are as risky as not using a protective barrier when someone gives another person CPR. Most people wouldn’t take that risk! They would look for something to improvise as a barrier or just do the chest compressions as recommended by the American Heart Association.
Why is it so much easier to follow the directions of the American Heart Association than the clear directions of our God? Do we fear the physical consequences that we can see more than the invisible consequences we cannot see? Do we take advantage of God’s forgiveness and grace? Do we think that we can dabble in the world’s ways and not be seduced, then devoured by the world I can only ask these questions because I myself have stood on this brink and even dipped my toes into what seemed like sweet water.
I hope that the next time I am tempted to bypass the spiritual barrier, I will remember the risk I am taking in catching a spiritual disease.
“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions ad desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:24&25 NIV
Where are your spiritual barriers today? Are you standing firm in your armor of God? Are you holding up the shield of faith?
Don’t forget your face mask. Picture from the Health Superstore Advertisement.
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Hi, your blog today should be an eye-opener for all of us – first we need all need to know how to do CPR – I learned when Jake was born and before he could come home (he was in the Nicu for 2 weeks) but need a refresher course – also your
quote from Paul is so true of our Country today – it seems like everyone just does what they want to without any conscience – those who predict 12-21-11 maybe have something as a huge wake-up call – I don’t believe most of it – but
according to the Hopi Indians we are going to have an Earth Purification – I think God might use that to remind us of how far off track we have become – BUT, when I am in need, trouble, scared I do go to God for help – my problem is I go to Him for
help and sometime forget to thank Him for all He has done for me and my family – have to work on that
Patcee