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

Day 4: Walking by Faith – Stepping Out

As we are grounded in the word of God, the Lord will make it clear which decisions we need to make. From there, our job is simple: to walk by faith. Of course, faith requires embracing the uncertain. We might not know what the next steps are. We might not know the full ramifications of our decisions or what the consequences of our choices will be. We may not even know what our lives will look like. But one thing is clear: we can rest assured that as we walk in the will of God, He will lead us in every moment. He is faithful and will order our steps.

Many believers never tap into the fullness of the life of faith and choose instead to play it safe. God never forces us to make difficult decisions. Sure, He will prompt us, and encourage us, and give us strength and wisdom as we ask, but He never forces us. But, brothers and sisters, our faith walk is the most amazing invitation to truly walk with the living God. We know that as we walk out our faith, God Himself is with us, and He will never leave us. We can trust God, and as we walk by faith, we get to know our God in a greater, deeper, and more intimate way than ever before. And you never know where He will lead you.

For Eric Liddell, after the 1924 Olympics, the Lord led him to go as a missionary to China, where he was born in 1902. He spent the next several years there doing missionary work and made a profound impact on the local communities he served. When the second world war broke out, he found himself in an internment camp, but stayed true to the call of God on his life. He walked by faith every day, taking an active role in serving the children in the camp by organizing and playing games, and acting as a referee. He also helped the elderly people and taught Bible classes, sharing the faith that guided his life. He continued to walk by faith every single step of his journey, not knowing where it would take him but trusting in the One who was leading.