Sermon Central
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Eric Liddell
Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 24, 2025 (message contributor)
Isaiah 40:31 says
But those who hope in the Lord,
Will renew their strength
They shall soar on wings like eagles
They will run and not grow weary
They will walk and not be faint
This Scripture is best illustrated up by the true story of Eric Liddell
You may recall his life story was told in the famous film "Chariots of Fire"
Eric Liddell was one of the favourites to win the gold medal for the 100 m in the Paris Olympics in 1924.
However the quarter finals for the 100 m were scheduled to be run on a Sunday and Liddell made it a principle never to run on the Lord's day. So he pulled out.
And it was in the Scottish Church in Paris that Sunday when his quarter final was being run that Liddell read Isaiah 40:31.
But those who hope in the Lord,
Will renew their strength
They shall soar on wings like eagles
They will run and not grow weary
They will walk and not be faint
God gave Eric Liddell his gold medal in a totally unexpected way.
Liddell ran the 400 m finals, a race that he had never run before and won it.
One of the Great Britain team masseurs sent him a note that said: In the old book it says: "He that honours me, I will honour" (referring to 1 Samuel 2:30 "Them that honour me I will honour"
He won the 400 m finals with a world record and that day transformed the 400 m.
Many commentators said he ran like a man inspired.
His sister Florence commented:
Eric always said that the great thing for him was when he stood by his principles and refused to run in the 100 m, he found that the 400 m was really his race.
He would never have dreamt of trying the 400 m at the Olympics.
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