In July 2024, millions will flock to Paris for the Olympic Games. But did you know 100 years ago there was a man who stunned the entire world at the 1924 Paris Olympics? Eric Lidl was born in China to two Scottish missionaries, Mary and James Lidl. So unstable was China in those days that they made the difficult decision to put their two children, Eric and Roberts, into a respectable boarding school in London. It was here, at Eltham College, that Eric Lidl was to be made.
Even as a boy, It was clear that Eric was very unique. The headmaster described him as being entirely without vanity. He came to sports. No one was better. Not only was he the fastest runner in the school, but he won at the high jump, the long jump, and he was the captain of both the cricket and rugby team. God had assigned greatness to Eric Lidl for a reason. Why? Because he was trustworthy. He was humble and every opportunity he got, he would share the gospel to anyone he
would listen. Whilst at the University of Edinburgh, Eric joined the track team and you guessed it, he won race after race, beating every man in Scotland until the press eventually gave him the nickname the Flying Scotsman. Although Eric was a humble man, he did not shy away from his newfound fame and he took every opportunity to tell the crowds, to tell the press, to speak at universities all about his saviour who loved the world enough to dying across for
sinners. But Eric was about to get an even bigger microphone to announce his faith to the world. On July the 6th, 1924, Eric Lidl got the opportunity of a lifetime, a chance to compete in the Paris Olympics. It was his race, the one he was favorite for the 100 meter Sprint. But there was one huge problem. The qualifying heat was held on a Sunday and Eric believed that this was the Lord's Day and he had a conviction that it should
be kept special. In other words, he felt it would be wrong for him to run on that day. Even back then, this was seen as an over the top stance. Lidl was the favorite to win and he was letting down his country. After all, wouldn't God be pleased that he was bringing back a gold medal to Scotland? But Eric stuck to his principles and instead competed in a completely different category in the 400 meters, a race that he had virtually no chance of
winning. July 11th, 1924, Eric Lidl was preparing to run the hardest race of his life when he received a little note from one of his team mates. It's simply read in the old book. It says he that honours me. I will honour wishing you the best of success. Always as Eric got into position he could hear the words on your marks. He knew he was the underdog get set.
He knew that he was on the outside lane and that he was disadvantaged because he couldn't see the runners behind him go. But that didn't stop the Flying Scotsman from sprinting with all of his might for the 1st 200 meters. However, fellow competitors Horatio Fitch and Guy Butler began to catch him up on the home streets. But to quote Lidl, the secret to his success for the 2nd 200 metres with God's help, I run harder. And he did.
Unbelievably. Not only did he win a gold medal for Scotland, but he broke the world record with an impressive time of 47.6 seconds, A record that would be unbeatable for 12 whole years. It was official Eric Lidl was a superstar with a glittering career of sports ahead of him. And yet, at age 22, Lidl would do something even more surprising than refusing to compete on a Sunday. He made the decision to retire and throw it all away.
For what? For Jesus, little left all of his comfort and glory behind and moved back to China. He lived in poor conditions, and he had one goal. He wanted to show the love of Christ to those you needed it most. While it felt like missionary work was tough, Eric hadn't seen anything yet. In 1941, the British Prime Minister advised all British citizens to leave China and return to the UK.
So Eric's wife Florence went to Canada as she was with child with their daughter Maureen, But Eric remained in China after relieving his brother Robert from an exhausted mission station in Jio Zhang. Eric eventually was taken and put in the Why Sheen internment camp, where it was noted that he poured himself out in love for the people there. He ran Bible classes, he helped the elderly and organized games for the youth who referred to him as Uncle Eric.
But sadly, our story doesn't quite have the happy ending that we were hoping for. Some blame the conditions of the camp, others say it was the bed squashed together, some say it was because he only ate one meal per day. And other states it was the nervous breakdown that Eric had from overwork. But whatever caused it? At just 46 years of age, Little died from a brain tumor. But I can hear exactly what you're saying, you say.
What kind of a reward is that for such a man of God who gave up talent, who gave up success, who gave up fame, money, all for the Lord's work? Is this how God would repay him? Well, let's let Eric Liddle answer that question. In the 34 years Eric Lidl served as a missionary in China, he only came back to Scotland twice. And on one visit a lady asked him, do you regret your decision to leave all of the fame and accolades behind for an unglamorous career as a missionary?
This is what Eric Lidl said. It's natural for a chap to think over all that sometimes, but I'm glad I'm at the work. I'm engaged now. A fellow's life counts far more at this than the other, and I believe if Eric Little was here today, he would ask you this question.
What race are you running? The Bible says, therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, I wonder now, after hearing the story of Eric Little, I wonder if anyone today will start running this race. Because did you know this? Everyone who enters into this race wins.
Everyone who starts to chase after the Lord Jesus Christ gets surprised. Why? Because as you run towards Jesus Christ, he doesn't just stand still. No, He runs to meet you also. So it's impossible not to find him. But you say to me, Joe, I don't know where to start. Well, it's very simple. It's all you have to do is change lanes. What if a race you've been running right now, whether it's the rat race for more money, where it's the race for more time, or if you're just running
a race for yourself. It's time that you switched lanes and started running on the Lord's track. Because the moment you step foot on His track, you'll see waiting for you at the finishing line is the Lord Jesus Christ with His arms open wide, those same arms which were pinned to a cross for your sin, dying there so that all of your sins, past, present and future, can be washed away with his very blood. There the Lord Jesus Christ waits to forgive you.
And if you step on that track today, you'll be forgiven. You'll gain eternal life because the one who rose in the dead promises to give you eternal life and to take you to the prize to heaven for all of eternity, to be with him if today you'll start running. So the only question you need to ask yourself is this, will I do it? Will I run towards Jesus Christ today?