Four young ladies who were good friends had decided to spend their spring break in South Beach, Florida. After three days of sun and fun where they were also celebrating one of the lady’s birthdays, the ladies were heading back to Chicago in their rental car.
They were just minutes away from the Miami International Airport when the unimaginable happened. Being young, vibrant, full of fun and life, Mariah Michelle Logan, 23, who was “hanging out” of the right rear window fell out of the car, landing on the busy Interstate highway. The driver of a Range Rover was unable to stop and ran over her, killing her instantly. Though he stopped briefly, he then took off, fleeing the scene of the accident.
How could such a thing happen? The driver of the car had switched lanes suddenly, apparently causing her to lose her balance. Her grieving friends said that she was smiling when she said her last words, “Bye, Miami!”
Mariah was just like so many other young people: having spontaneous fun without thinking of the danger of what she was doing. Her plans were to get on the plane to Chicago and go back to school, her job and her boyfriend. Her boyfriend summed it up this way: “She was just being silly. She loved life.”
Her family, friends and boyfriend all had high praise for her character and personality. Her sister commented, “They went to have fun; they did have fun. I saw so many pictures and things. It just didn’t end the way it was supposed to.”
Now, Not Later
This is exactly why the Bible says, “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth” (Ecclesiastes 12:11Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; (Ecclesiastes 12:1)). If we’re honest, those of us that are older can remember times when we took chances doing something crazy, stupid or dangerous. Our lives could have ended in a moment, just like Mariah’s did, propelling us into eternity. Do you know for certain where you would be? John 20:33Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. (John 20:3)1 Says, “These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name.”
When we break the laws of common sense, there are consequences. This is why the Bible says, “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God” (Matthew 4:77Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. (Matthew 4:7)). Read about it in “Popping a Wheelie in Traffic” and “Selfie Absorbed.”