"Are you glad you gave your life to missionary work?" he was asked. "Don't you miss the limelight, the rush, the frenzy, the cheers, the rich red wine of victory"? He told his inquisitor, "A fellow's life counts for far more at this than the other."
Despite never knowing him personally, the character and story of Eric Liddell has touched my heart and changed my life.
Eric, known as "The Flying Scotsman" is best remembered for standing by his convictions to honor the Sabbath during the 1924 Olympic Games. He turned down an opportunity to run in the 100 meter heats that fell on a Sunday, and lost a chance at a gold medal. Instead, Liddell chose to run the 400 meters (a race he had only raced 3 times previously) and ended up winning the gold medal. The Hollywood classic, "Chariots of Fire," is built around his Olympic journey.
Liddell's story reaches far beyond a medal, the message lies within his entire life. Eric chose a missionary life in China after the Games, and his steadfastness during his life in Weihsien cemented his legacy as a true legend of the faith.
Here are 9 reasons why Liddell's story should always be remembered for centuries to come:
1) Liddell's identity was in Christ, not his accomplishments-
For a man who won a Olympic Gold, he would be the last one to tell you he was an Olympic Champion. Everything in his life pointed back to Christ instead of himself. When you win a gold medal, you have achieved the pinnacle of athletic accomplishment. But Eric? His joy came from serving others and sharing about the hope that comes from the Lord.
When Liddell won gold, he had the opportunity to give himself a comfy and pleasurable life. Eric turned down every sponsorship except for one; His friend DP Thompson used Eric's platform to get him more speaking and preaching engagements throughout Scotland, Ireland, and England. Instead of using his accomplish for personal gain, he used it for the glory of God.
To quote Duncan Hamilton, "Eric considered his running as an addendum to his life, rather than his sole reason for living it"
2) Eric cared for and had time for anyone-
After the Olympics Eric went to China to be a missionary and was sent to an internment camp by the Japanese for civilians of Allied countries. While he was there, Eric poured his heart and soul out to the people in the camp. He was so busy caring for the needs of others that his roommate put a sign over his door that would slide in or out depending on whether Eric was available or not. A large part of his early death at 43 stemmed from pouring out everything he had to kids, teenagers, adults, or anyone he encountered.
Langdon Gillkey, a fellow inmate who survived the camp wrote of Liddell: "Often in an evening I would see him bent over a chessboard or a model boat, or directing some sort of square dance – absorbed, weary and interested, pouring all of himself into this effort to capture the imagination of these penned-up youths."
Liddell used everything he had in the tank as an outpouring to the community around him.
3) Christ was in his heart-
One of Liddell's favorite song was "Be Still My Heart," an old Finnish song by composer Jean Sibelius which was turned into a hymn. Eric sang this song everywhere he went, and his heart resonated his love for Jesus through song. The lyrics have strengthened my heart. It was said the day he passed away in the internment camp, a sheet of ice layered the camp to mark the void he left. As souls were heavy, the first thing they could think of, was to sing this song.. Eric's song.
Be still, my soul
The Lord is on thy side!
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide
Be still my soul- Thy best, thy heav'nly Friend
Through thorny ways lead to a joyful end
4) Eric's sense of duty to God was above everything in his life-
Eric truly believed that God reigned over his life and he gave the Lord full control to use him however He wished. Eric Liddell did not say, "When I run, I feel God's pleasure." What he actually said was, "I believed God has called me to China"
Liddell felt so strongly about his calling that he willingly put his wife and children on a boat to Canada, to safety while he stayed the course in China during the hostile Chinese Japanese war. He would never see his wife or children again. While his heart was longing and pained for reunion, he lived out Luke 12:48 and lived faithfully to what the Lord had called him to.
5) He spread joy and positivity everywhere he went
Eric had two rules for himself that he lived vigorously by while in China:
Rule #1- Take it all with a smile
Rule #2- However troublesome, don't get annoyed
These rules apply to all areas of life. Jesus walked in a similar manner. I have caught myself practicing these principles, and it has blessed me day after day.
6) Liddell was humble-
It was said that no matter how many times people tried to get information out of him after the Olympics, Eric would give them two or three sentences at best and quickly return to asking questions about the questioner.
As a competitor, he was the first to shake his fellow competitors hands, congratulate them on a great race, even if he had beaten them. He underplayed his own victories, and highlighted the triumphs of others. That, my friends is character at it's finest!
7) He stood by his convictions- not for a moment, but for a lifetime-
While the world saw Eric in Chariots of Fire, they caught a mere glimpse of a man who walked faithfully and well beyond a single decision to not run on the Sabbath. Liddell lived out Colossians 1:9-14 and pleased the Lord with his conduct, faithfulness, and endurance.
8) Lidell prayed-
It was said that during Weihsien he would spend an hour every morning to sit, be still, and pray. Not only that, but Eric spurred the other Christian families in the camp to pray for the Japanese guards, the people they hated the most.
9) Eric was all in for Christ-
As Eric was dying in the camp hospital at the young age of 43 from a brain tumor, his final words were, "total surrender." Eric surrendered his life to Christ and gave him everything he had in this life. That is a legacy worth following.
Eric Liddell is a Legend of the Faith and his life is one worth trying to replicate. But if I'm a guessing man, I would imagine that Eric would simply smile and say, "Don't follow me, follow Christ."
And so we press on friends, chasing Christ with more vigor and zeal than yesterday. God is good, faithful, and loves us than we could ever know!
Through thorny ways lead to a joyful end
