ERIC LIDDEL
Eric Liddel was born in 1902 in Northern China. His parents were missionaries with the London Missionary Society. Though the time he actually spent in China, as a child was brief, there was a seed sown in weakness, which would later reap a lifetime of sacrifice and service to this strange land.Eric was raised and schooled in Edinburgh. It quickly became evident that Eric possessed a tremendous gifting in athletics. He excelled in Rugby and Track. Eric's name as soon nationally known for his record-breaking times in the 100 meters. But Eric's name would go down in Britain's history books for an even greater feat.
In 1924, the World Olympics were held in Paris, France. Eric had qualified to represent Great Britain in the darling of all sprints, the 100 meters. There was only one problem - his race was scheduled on a Sunday. Without fanfare or call for attention, Eric quietly withdrew his name from the race, saying, "Sunday is the Lord's day, and I will not race." He was later rescheduled to run the 200 and 400 meter race, of which he won the bronze and the gold! This story was later put into motion picture, known as, "Chariots of Fire".
His life could be summarized by the little passage found in 1 Samuel 2:30, "for them that honor me, I will honor."
After graduation from college, Eric returned to China to finish his life where it had began. He served in China as a missionary from 1925 to 1943. During an uprising, he was imprisoned where he eventually died, serving those imprisoned along with him.
In my estimation, his life is one of the most inspiring of all my "Great Scots". So touched by his life, I named my firstborn after him, Eric. Turning his back on all the trappings of a sports hero, and returning to the land of his calling, China, where he would ultimately give his life in service.
Today, the Lord calls each of us to honor Him. And we do this when we:
1) Honor the Lord in small matters.
No one honors the Lord in the great, who does not honor the Lord in the small.2) Honor the Lord without pretension.
Motivated by higher principle than prominence, praise or place, they seek the divine approval of God.3) Honor the Lord in all circumstance.
The Christian finds himself in all types of circumstance in which to honor the Lord, good and bad.4) Honor the Lord in life and death.
"Only those who live well, may die well." The history of the Church of Jesus Christ is one filled with men and women who "loved not their lives unto the death." Eric's life may still be found in print; "The Flying Scotsman" by Sally Magnusson.
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