AP

As we approach the Paris Olympics, we could do worse than dust off our old DVD of “Chariots of Fire” (1981), to refresh our acquaintance of one of the heroes of the Paris Games exactly 100 years ago. The two main characters in the film were champion sprinters representing Great Britain, Harold Abrahams of England and Eric Liddell of Scotland.  Abrahams was from a wealthy Jewish family and Liddell was born in China to a couple of Scottish LMS missionaries. Abrahams was driven by a need for acceptance, Liddell by his Christian faith. The two were hot favourites for the gold medal in the 100 metres.

In the film, Liddell finds out on the cross-channel ferry that the heats of the 100 metres are to be held on a Sunday and withdraws from the event for conscientious reasons, much to the consternation of the team manager.  In reality, the schedule had been known for months and, in fact, he also pulled out of the 4×100 and 4×400 relay events for the same reason. Not only were team-management upset, but elements of the press accused him of being unpatriotic.

The film covers the day of the 100 metre heats by intercutting the triumph and tragedy on the cinder running track with worship at the Scots Church in Paris, where Liddell reads the lesson from Isaiah 40, verses 15, 17, 23, 28, 29 concluding with verse 31: “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint”.  The story continues to Liddell’s running in his less-preferred 400 metres.  Just before he runs, the famous US sprinter Jackson Scholz, hands him a piece of paper on which the words are written, ‘He that honours me I will honour.’ In reality, the words were “In the old book it says, ‘for them that honour me I will honour’. Wishing you the best of success always,” and the note was not from Scholz but from some team-mates, passed on by a team masseur.  Liddell immediately knew the quotation from 1 Samuel 2:30.  He unexpectedly won the race from the difficult outside lane, breaking the world record. In reality, he was a highly rated 400 metre runner. He also won a bronze medal in the 200 metres, beating Abrahams into sixth, though the latter did win the 100 metres. Furthermore, Abrahams converted to Christianity around the time he married, in 1936.

Afterwards, talking with his sister Jenny, who is portrayed as urging him out of sport and into missionary work, Liddell says to her: “I believe God made me for a purpose. For China. But He also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure”. In fact, Jenny was not opposed to his sporting activities, which also included seven Rugby caps for Scotland.

Early in the film, Liddell is shown giving an evangelistic address to Scottish students during an Irish-Scottish athletics meeting.

You came to see a race today. See someone win. Happened to be me. But I want you to do more than just watch a race. I want you to take part in it.

I want to compare faith to running in a race. It’s hard, requires concentration of will, energy of soul. You experience elation when the winner breaks the tape — ‘specially if you’ve got a bet on it. But how long does that last? You go home. Maybe your dinner’s burnt. Maybe, maybe you haven’t got a job. So who am I to say, “believe,” “have faith,” in the face of life’s realities?

I would like to give you something more permanent, but I can only point the way. I have no formula for winning the race. Everyone runs in her own way, or his own way.

And where does the power come from to see the race to its end? From within.

Jesus said, “Behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” “If, with all your hearts ye truly seek Me, ye shall ever surely find Me” — if you commit yourself to the love of Christ. And THAT is how you run the straight race.

In reality, of course, this is a rather watered-down version of what he would actually have said, with the scriptural quotations a mash-up of Luke 17:21, Deuteronomy 4:29 and Jeremiah 29:13.  But for an Oscar-winning film in the 1980s, it’s not too bad.

In 1925, Liddell returned to China as an educational missionary.  He was in a Japanese internment camp from 1942 until he died from an undiagnosed brain tumour, overwork and malnutrition in February 1945 at the age of 43.  In the camp, he taught and organized youth activities, gave pastoral guidance and preached.

Now, here is truly an athlete to celebrate. He used his God-given gifts, he gave his all to the glory of God and proclaimed the gospel in word and deed.  His life was one of integrity and ultimately of self-sacrifice.

– Malcolm Prentis