A seat belt saved a driver, but not in the usual way. Steven Earp, a 48-year-old Eugene, Oregon man, was eating a fast-food sandwich Wednesday morning. Earp choked and blacked out. His 1997 Honda sedan hit a parked car.After the wreck, Earp came to. Earp's revival was attributed to a "seat-belt-induced Heimlich maneuver." Witnesses told police Earp got out of his car, and they asked if he was okay.
"No, I'm not," he said, and collapsed again.
Paramedics revived him and took him to the hospital, where doctors determined he hadn't been injured.
Mr. Earp's life was spared because he was obeying the law. Now, a breakfast sandwich normally has nothing to do with a seat belt; but in this case, Earp and his loved ones must surely be glad it did.
Granted, there is not much of a connection here, but this story made me think of these words...
And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.
1 Kings 3:14, ESV
These words from the book of First Kings were the Lord's counsel to Solomon as he was in the early days of his kingship in Israel. Solomon himself echoed these words many times over in the book of Proverbs. One example of such is...
The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.
Proverbs 10:27, ESV
Like most proverbs, this conveys a statement that is generally true. Certainly, there are exceptions, but more often than not, "hard living" shows.
So, take a lesson from Steven Earp of Eugene, Oregon. It pays to do right!
r2
