Memory Verse I Corinthians 9 25 Eric Liddell

Memory Verse • I Corinthians 9: 25

Eric Liddell: The Greatest Race The Olympics http: //www. ericliddell. org/eric-liddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Eric%20 Liddell&page=14

Review http: //www. ericliddell. org/eric-liddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Eric%20 Liddell&page=10 and http: //www. ericliddell. org/ericliddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Eric%20 Liddell&page=8 http: //www. ericliddell. org/eric-liddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Eric%20 Liddell&page=14 John W. Keddie

Trouble for Eric http: //www. ericliddell. org/eric-liddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Eric%20 Liddell&page=39 • The 100 meter heats were to held on Sunday!! • He believed that he should honor the “Christian Sabbath” by resting • “’The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath. ’” (Mark 2: 27) • Jesus healed on the Sabbath (Mark 3: 3)

Would Eric honor God? http: //www. ericliddell. org/eric-liddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Eric%20 Liddell&page=41 • Yes! • He would miss a good chance at a gold medal. • However, he decided not to run in the 100 or the relay races!! (Maybe 3 golds!) • Eric put God above himself! • “And that he died for all, that they who live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him who died for them, and rose again. ” (II Cor. 5: 15)

Various responses from people http: //www. ericliddell. org/eric-liddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Eric%20 Liddell&page=19 • Some were happy that he had stood for his principles while sacrificing a shot at a gold medal • Others were mad that he was putting his beliefs before the country • Some told him to go to church on Sunday and then run in the afternoon ………. In other words: compromise a little.

No Compromise for Eric http: //www. ericliddell. org/eric-liddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Eric%20 Liddell&page=19 • “We ought to obey God rather than men. ” (Acts 5: 29) • “If ye love me, keep my commandments. ” (John 14: 15) • “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ” (I John 2: 15)

Eric to run two other races http: //www. ericliddell. org/eric-liddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Eric%20 Liddell&page=42 • Eric agreed to run the 200 and the 400 • “He was not considered an Olympic contender at either distance, although some gave him an outside chance in the shorter race. ” (Eric Liddell-Pure Gold, pg. 81) • Eric began to train for the two races with Tom Mc. Kerchar

Other things on Eric’s mind http: //www. ericliddell. org/eric-liddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Eric%20 Liddell&page=8 • What to do with his life after college graduation. • Rob was sure of his call to be a missionary to China • “’Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations…. ’” (Matt. 28: 19) • Eric still wasn’t sure although he too was leaning towards China

Eric ran in the Penn Relays in USA http: //www. ericliddell. org/eric-liddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Eric%20 Liddell&page=16

Before the Olympics Began http: //www. ericliddell. org/eric-liddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Eric%20 Liddell&page=22 • Eric was the Best Man for Rob at Rob’s wedding

Before the Olympics http: //www. ericliddell. org/eric-liddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Eric%20 Liddell&page=27 • Eric completed his school work from the University of Edinburgh in order to graduate

Before the Olympics I, the copyright holder of this work, release this work into the public domain. This applies worldwide • Eric decided that he would go to China as a missionary • “Hoping to teach science at the Anglo. Chinese College in Tientsin. ” (Eric Liddell-Pure Gold, pg. 84)

Finally, an Olympian http: //www. ericliddell. org/eric-liddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Eric%20 Liddell&page=21 • Eric was selected by the British Olympic Committee to represent them in the 200 and 400. • Now it was off to Paris.

1924 Olympics in Paris, France I, the copyright holder of this work, release this work into the public domain. This applies worldwide. In some countries this may not be legally possible; if so: I grant anyone the right to use this work for any purpose, without any conditions, unless such conditions are required by law.

As promised, Eric sat out of the 100 http: //www. ericliddell. org/eric-liddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Eric%20 Liddell&page=41

Eric runs in the 200 John W. Keddie • Eric made it to the finals of the 200 on Wednesday • He finished a close race in third place, just 0. 4 from a gold medal • Bronze Medal for Eric

Bronze Medal http: //www. ericliddell. org/eric-liddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Athletics%20 Memorabilia http: //www. ericliddell. org/ericliddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Athletics%20 Memorabilia&page=1 http: //www. ericliddell. org/eric-liddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Athletics%20 Memorabilia&page=2 • Front and Back of the Bronze Medal that Eric won in the 200

Time for the 400 http: //www. ericliddell. org/eric-liddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Eric%20 Liddell&page=19 • Eric called an “’awful runner’” by one American University track coach, who also admitted that Eric had “’what it takes’” to win (Eric Liddell-Pure Gold- pg. 94) • Nonetheless, there were others who could win including two who would break the world record

Right before the race http: //www. ericliddell. org/eric-liddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Eric%20 Liddell&page=41 • Eric was given a note by someone on the British team • It read: “It says in the Old Book, ‘Him that honors me, I will honor. ’ Wishing you the best of success always. ” • Quote was from I Sam. 2: 30 • Note encouraged Eric to know others felt the same way he did

Does that mean that Eric would automatically win the Gold Medal? http: //www. ericliddell. org/eric-liddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Eric%20 Liddell&page=20 • No. • There are many ways that God can honor us. • Sometimes its those who come in last place that God uses for His purposes. • Winning the Gold Medal could be one of those ways but not necessarily. • The important thing was that Eric had put God first.

Semi-final race of the 400 http: //www. ericliddell. org/eric-liddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Eric%20 Liddell&page=15 • Eric won his heat to get to the finals • However, in the other heat, an American set a new world record

For the 400 Final, Eric would give it his all John W. Keddie

400 meter Finals http: //www. ericliddell. org/eric-liddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Eric%20 Liddell&page=17 • Eric drew the outside lane, which was the worst • The two most recent world record holders there

Eric defeated them all! Setting a new world record! http: //www. ericliddell. org/eric-liddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Eric%20 Liddell&page=18

God had been gracious to Eric http: //www. ericliddell. org/eric-liddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Athletics%20 Memorabilia&page=1 http: //www. ericliddell. org/ericliddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Athletics%20 Memorabilia&page=2 • Eric had won a Gold Medal in the 400.

Two days later, Eric was preaching on Sunday instead of running the relays http: //www. ericliddell. org/eric-liddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Eric%20 Liddell&page=41 • From the Glasgow Herald: “ ‘The announcement that Liddell is to preach in the Scottish Kirk at Paris…. serves as a reminder that our champion’s main interest does not lie on the athletic field. ’” (Eric Liddell-Pure Gold pg. 99) • “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. ” (II Cor. 4: 18)

Another quote from the paper http: //www. ericliddell. org/eric-liddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Eric%20 Liddell&page=37 • “ ‘Liddell’s career on the running track may be drawing to a close, but his great work among young people in the interest of a vital and whole-hearted Christian discipleship is only just beginning, and the effects of that work are likely to be as far-reaching as the fruits are great. ’” (Eric Liddell-Pure Gold pg. 99)

Upon his return, Eric graduated from Univ. of Edinburgh with Science Degree http: //www. ericliddell. org/eric-liddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Eric%20 Liddell&page=28

Eric gave speeches http: //www. ericliddell. org/eric-liddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Eric%20 Liddell&page=26 • “ ‘It has been a wonderful experience to compete in the Olympic Games and to bring home a gold medal. But since I have been a young lad, I have had my eyes on a different prize. You see, each one of us is in a greater race than any I have run in Paris, and this race ends when God gives out the medals. ’” (Eric Liddell: Something Greater Than Gold pg. 69)

There will be rewards in heaven http: //www. ericliddell. org/eric-liddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Athletics%20 Memorabilia • You can’t get to heaven by being good – “For by grace are you saved through faith, and not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works so no one can boast. ” (Eph. 2: 8 -9) • But there are rewards for pleasing God after we are saved – “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. ” (Matt. 16: 27)

Eric was willing to talk anywhere during his evangelistic services http: //www. ericliddell. org/eric-liddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Eric%20 Liddell&page=20 • He wanted to live for Christ • He had something in his favor: He was an Olympic Champion • “Jesus returned to Galilee…. and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. ” (Luke 4: 14 -15)

Ready to Witness for Jesus http: //www. ericliddell. org/eric-liddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Eric%20 Liddell&page=19 • Like Eric, we have been given much. • Remember the Bible…. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. ” (Luke 12: 48)

Tomorrow Night: China! http: //www. ericliddell. org/eric-liddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Eric%20 Liddell&page=30 http: //www. ericliddell. org/ericliddell/gallery/index. php? cat=Eric%20 Liddell&page=38