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Written by Sparky Pritchard Friday, 09 July 2010 13:24

Over a century ago James and Mary, a missionary couple serving in Tientsin, China, welcomed a second son into their home.  As he and his older brother grew up and entered a boarding school in England, these boys excelled in sports – rugby, cricket, and track.  The younger of the two even set a record for the 100-meter dash.

While attending the University of Edinburgh, this second son continued to show flashes of brilliance as a runner.  Soon he emerged as the fasted sprinter in Scotland.  He was heralded as a national hero.

Both brothers were involved in sharing their faith during these years.  And for the younger boy, Eric Liddell, his evangelistic “talks” made front page news in the local papers.  Eric was moved by this response as God blessed his witness.  Doors opened for him to speak to thousands throughout the British Isles.

His notoriety grew as he continued running and with the 1924 Olympics approaching.  Eric made the track team, and every Englishman (and Scot) hoped that Eric would accomplish what no other Scot had ever achieved – a gold medal in the 100-Meter.

The Olympics were held in Paris that year, and when the schedule of qualifying races was published, the hundred-meters was set for Sunday.  For contemporary Americans the temptation is to think, “So?”  But Eric was a godly young man with firm convictions about his faith and worship of God.  Sunday was the Lord’s Day, and he could not and would not race on that day.  The English Olympic Committee appealed to the organizing committee to change the qualifying round to another day.  But the request was refused.  When the press learned of Eric’s decision to bow out, the papers attacked the young man with one saying that Eric was “a traitor to Scottish sporting.”

On that Sunday when Eric might have been running the qualifying race, he was instead preaching at a Scottish Presbyterian church in Paris.  Harold Abrahams took his place on the track and eventually won the gold in the 100-meter.  Eric saw God’s hand in this.  But the English Olympic Committee inserted Eric in the 200 and 400 meter races held on Wednesday.  He finished second in the 200 … the first time a Scot had ever won a medal in that event.  On Friday he ran in the 400 … though was not favored to win.  As he prepared to enter the stadium for that race, the team masseur handed Eric a piece of paper which read, “He that honors me I will honor” (a verse from 1 Samuel 2:30).

Eric Liddell won the 400-meter that day – July 11, 1924 – and became the first Scot to win an Olympic Gold in track.

Never be afraid to stand up for your convictions … even though others may question you.  In honoring God we win the greatest race of all … the race as a faithful child of God (cf. Hebrews 12:1).