Obedience

Some of you may remember the film Chariots of Fire. The true story of Eric Liddell and his story of seeking to serve God and be one of the greatest athletes in the 1924 Olympics.

As you may know, Eric was an especially gifted runner, and his specialty race was the 100 meter. However, the IOC at that time had decided that the 100 meter race would be run on a Sunday. As the story tells us, Eric was a strong believer that Sunday was meant to be a day fully devoted to God, not other pursuits.

Eric famously declined to race the 100 meter and instead went to church on Sunday. Much to the chagrin of his countrymen and the British Olympic Commission. He went on the race the 400 meter a few days later; a race many thought he had no chance of winning, and set a world record.

Many people in Eric’s position would have made the decision to run, because: “God has given me the ability to run.” However, Eric understood something very few people ever understand. Eric understood what God said in 1 Samuel 2:30: “Him that honors me, I will also honor…”

God wants our obedience more than out gifts. He wants us to honor him more than we seek honor for ourselves. Many times he gives us gifts to see if we will make the decision to honor our gift, or honor Him.

Not many of us can remember who the rest of the medal winners were from the 1924 Olympics, but Eric Liddell is immortalized as a picture of what it looks like to honor God, even when we feel the draw to honor our gifts more.