As a lifeguard on the New Jersey coastline, 20-year-old Peter LaQuaglia has been trained to spot people struggling or drowning in the water and exercise life-saving measures to help them.  Recently, his training enabled him save a life away from the water.

On Friday, June 7th, LaQuaglia had left his lifeguard post at Seaside Heights for his lunch break.  He was enjoying a slice of pizza from a nearby restaurant when he heard a woman screaming frantically, begging for help.

LaQuaglia rushed to the boardwalk to find a little boy who was not breathing.  The 10-month-old boy was choking on what appeared to be one of those loose plastic rings from a water bottle that sometimes breaks off when the cap is unscrewed.  The woman who had been crying out for help was the boy’s grandmother. She was in a state of shock.

The lifeguard immediately used his training to try to help the little boy.  He employed the Heimlich maneuver to try to dislodge the plastic ring from the child’s throat.  “You flip them over on their stomach and give them pats on the back until they cough up whatever they’re choking on,” said LaQuaglia, describing the maneuver.

“[It was] probably the scariest moment of my life knowing I literally had someone’s life in my hands,” the young lifeguard said.

Eventually, LaQuaglia was able to dislodge the ring from the boy’s mouth, and the little boy started breathing again.  After being evaluated, it was determined that the little boy had made a complete recovery, thanks to the heroic efforts of an “off-duty” lifeguard who responded at just the right time.*

When our sins were “choking us to death,” Someone came to our rescue.  Our Lifeguard is Jesus, the Son of God.  It wasn’t that He just “happened” to be near and able to respond; it was the eternal plan of God to save us from our sins (see 1 Peter 1:18-20).  However, He came “at just the right time” (see Galatians 4:4-5).

In order to save our lives, Jesus had to give His life.  He “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).  He died for us so that we might live with Him forever (1 Thessalonians 5:10).  His death paid the price for the redemption of our sins so that we might be forgiven and receive the gift of eternal life (Ephesians 1:7; Romans 6:23).

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).

At just the right time, our Lifeguard came to our rescue!  He will save us if we will accept His offer of salvation and eternal life.

Won’t YOU?

-- David A. Sargent

* Information gleaned from “Lifeguard On His Lunch Break Saves Choking Baby In New Jersey” by CBS New York, www.newyork.cbslocal.com

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