A Life Laid Down: Reflections From the Centennial of Eric LiddellSample

Day 1: A Life Laid Down: True Faith

At the 1924 Olympics in Paris, a Scottish runner named Eric Liddell was the fastest man on the planet. He was favored to win the 100-meter gold medal. However, his race fell on a Sunday, and rather than running the race, he chose to take a Sabbath, shocking the world. Being a devout Christian, Eric didn’t run on Sundays. To him, it was just that simple. Instead of running, he preached at a local church in Paris, and as a result, he was disqualified from the 100 meter race.

Fortunately, God had another plan. Eric decided to enter the 400-meter race, where he not only won the gold medal, but he broke the world record, achieving international acclaim. Because of this feat, there was an opportunity for him to do many things. However, his faith guided his every step. Instead of choosing a life of fame and glory, Eric Liddell opted to become a missionary in China, where he died at the age of 43 in an internment camp during the second world war.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Eric Liddell’s bold stand for his faith, as the Olympics returns to Paris after 100 years. His story and courage should encourage us all to pause and reflect on our own faith journey and should prompt us to ask ourselves about our faith:

What is the condition of my faith today?

Do I tend to choose the world, or the kingdom of God?

In what ways have I laid down my desires for the larger call of God on my life?

Over the next four days, we’re going to look at what it truly means to walk in the faith, and how we can do that practically. We hope that this plan will encourage you as we together celebrate the 100th anniversary of a brother in Christ who showed the world - both then and today - what it means to lay down your life for the sake of the gospel.