The Great Race
“He who honors me, I will honor” (1 Samuel 2:30).
That was the verse that was handed to Scottish runner Eric Liddell moments before he ran the 400 meters in the 1924 Olympics. It was not the event that he had trained for. He was a sprinter and was favored in the 100 meters. But the heats for the 100 were on a Sunday, and he would not run.
Although hailed as a hero now (and made famous by the movie Chariots of Fire), Liddell’s refusal to run on Sunday made him the object of severe ridicule and scorn by both the British people and the British press. The … Continue reading...
Lessons from the Life of Eric Liddell: #4: “Truth is More Important than Popularity”
The complete series on Eric Liddell can be found here.
Whether we realize it or not, and whether we are willing to admit it or not, there is a core value that has been ingrained in us from our very earliest days which teaches us that the most important thing in life is that we are well liked. If we are honest, we have to admit that a substantial portion (if not most) of our energies and our strivings and our efforts are designed to procure a “well done” from our friends, family, and co-workers.
This desire for approval is so ingrained in us (and our culture), that … Continue reading...
Lessons from the Life of Eric Liddell: #3: “God Can Use Anyone to Advance His Kingdom”
This is the third installment of a blog series announced here.
Even though Eric Liddell was a natural talent on the track or rugby pitch, he was not a natural talent when it came to public ministry. He was a shy person, naturally quiet, and not inclined to speak in public. In fact, it was a nerve-wracking experience for him.
And his fears, at least on a human level, proved to be somewhat justified. Eric did not have the polish, skill, or eloquence of most modern preachers. In fact, when Eric’s widow Florence first saw the 1981 film Chariots of Fire, and the eloquence with which the actor … Continue reading...
Lessons from the Life of Eric Liddell: #2: “Determination is Not Contrary to the Gospel of Grace”
This is the second installment of a blog series announced here.
When it came to athletics, especially running, there were few people more determined than Eric Liddell. To put it simply, he would never give up. Never.
The most famous example of Liddell’s determination was at a 1923 championship meet at Stoke where he was competing against runners from Scotland, England, and Ireland. After competing in the 100 and the 200, an exhausted Liddell was set to run the 400—and event for which he had hardly trained.
Soon after the race had begun, Liddell’s chances grew even worse when at the first turn he was tripped up by another … Continue reading...
Lessons from the Life of Eric Liddell: #1: “Christian Character Really Does Matter”
This is the first installment of a blog series announced here.
For those who knew the Olympic sprinter Eric Liddell personally, it was not his exceptional speed that was his most outstanding quality. It was his exceptional Christian character. Liddell took very seriously a verse that is largely dismissed by Christians today: “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt 5:48).
Dr. George Dorling, former flat mate of Liddell’s, recalled that this verse “was the standard by which he judged his actions…whenever he had not attained that perfection which Jesus commanded, then he recognized it as sin and took appropriate steps to put it right.”… Continue reading...