His team won the game.  But that was not the most important play that involved basketball player, Myles Copeland.

During the game, one of the minor league referees fell to the floor.  He was suffering a heart attack.  Copeland, who is also a firefighter, sprang into action.  He ran across the court and immediately started administering CPR to the referee.  He continued for 10 minutes until paramedics arrived.

“The basketball game just didn’t matter anymore, it was about saving his life,” Copeland told “America’s Newsroom” last Monday.

The referee’s wife, a nurse, assisted Copeland in the care of her husband.  She thanked Copeland with a hug when their life-saving procedure was completed.

Copeland said the referee was coherent and talking as the paramedics whisked him away on a stretcher.  Later, the referee had to undergo triple bypass surgery but is now resting – with great gratitude for his rescuer.

“I’m very thankful I was there, and I’m sure he was thankful that I was there as well,” Copeland said.  “It seemed that everyone was in a panic at the time I was there, but from all our training I was cool, calm and collected.”

When we were dying because of our sins, Jesus came to our rescue.  He administered “CPR” – “Christ-Powered-Redemption” so that we might live.  It was “Christ-Powered” because only the sinless Son of God could provide the means for our redemption.  It is “Redemption” because we are “bought back” from the cruel, fatal bondage to sin (John 8:34; Romans 6:23).  It required the death of Jesus on the cross of Calvary, for only His blood could pay the price for our redemption.

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

The Apostle Peter reminded Christians of the price that was paid for their redemption: “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18-19).

The need for Jesus’ “CPR” is universal, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

The Good News is that Jesus’ CPR is available to all who come to Christ for salvation.

God will save and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9).

Copeland’s timely response with CPR saved a man’s life.  Jesus’ CPR - Christ-Powered-Redemption - saves lives for eternity.  He will save YOUR life if you will just submit your life to His care.

-- David A. Sargent

* Information gleaned from “Hero basketball player saves referee's life with CPR following heart attack: 'I went into firefighter mode'” by Amy Nelson of Fox News, www.foxnews.com, published 6/20/2022.

David A. Sargent, Minister

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

Archived issues of Living Water can be viewed and accessed from our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org