This movie won the "best picture" Oscar in 1981. The Oscars were on again just last week, and the movie that won "best picture" this year is a film called "No Country for Old Men". I haven't seen this movie, but IMBD describes the plot of it as "Violence and mayhem ensue after a hunter stumbles upon some dead bodies, a stash of heroin and more than $2 million in cash near the Rio Grande." I was struck by the notion that 27 years ago a film that unabashedly portrayed a main character's dedication to his Christian faith - and had zero sex, violence, drug use, or profanity - was recognized as the best in the film industry. Last week this same movie industry chose to celebrate a film that I can only imagine was rife with sex, violence, drugs, and profanity and probably had zero characters who claimed any true faith at all. It makes me wonder what the next 27 years will bring.
Now back to Eric Liddell. Eric's family were Scottish missionaries in China, and Eric's sister had great reservations about him "abandoning" the mission in China to stay behind in Scotland to train for the 1924 Olympics. To her, he says this oft-quoted line (imagine it being said with a Scottish accent makes it all the better):
"I believe God made me for a purpose. For China. But he also made me fast, and when I run I feel his pleasure. To give it up would be to hold Him in contempt...To win is to honor Him."
There's much more to this story about how Eric's unrelenting hold on his faith and convictions are a witness to those around him, and how God "honors those who honor him". What I like most about this movie is the message that God gives us all certain abilities, and they can all be used for His glory and honor. Do I "feel God's pleasure" in what I do?
1 comment:
I appreciate your perceptive comments. Isn't it also true that Eric refused to run on Sunday. Hopefully the movie portayed this also. He later died in China at an early age as a missionary. Thanks Dad
Post a Comment