April 3, 2022 Text: Philippians 3:8-14
Dear Friends in Christ,
Track season is underway. St. Paul illustrated where the Lord is calling us with the oldest of athletic competitions, the foot race. We all know the coach speak: “keep your eye on the finish line or rim or ball or goal.”
Chariots of Fire won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1982. I wonder if it could win today? It was the true account of a man who, like St. Paul, ran toward the life above.
The movie chronicled Eric Liddell’s refusal to run on a Sunday in the 1924 Olympics and his subsequent victory in the 400 meters. For Liddell, Sunday was the Lord’s Day, a day to honor God. It was not a day to run – even in the Olympics. The movie was very good, Toni and I actually just saw it a few years back, but even Hollywood couldn’t communicate the whole inspiring story.
Sally Magnusson wrote a book entitled The Flying Scotsman. She admitted that she approached the Liddell story as a subject too good to be true attitude. She thought such a strong-minded man would have a “holier-than-thou” attitude. In many of her interviews with those who knew him they described Liddell as “Christlike.” He was open to people of all races and befriended competitors no one else would talk to.
Eric Liddell gave up running to become a missionary to China. He died of a brain tumor at age 43. He had a quiet serenity from early morning sessions of prayer, meditation, and Bible study. On the day he died in 1945, one his companions wrote in their journal: “He wasn’t a great leader or an inspired thinker, but he knew what he ought to do, and he did it.”
Liddell lived his life like he ran the 400, with his . . . .
“EYE ON THE FINISH LINE”
In our Epistle, St. Paul reminds us that righteousness does not come to the Christian by obeying the Law – it is the gift of God through faith in Jesus Christ. Neither guilt over the past nor worry about the future produces the Christ-life in the present. Nobody is perfect in this life – not St. Paul, not Eric Liddell, not you and not me – but in faith the perfect righteousness of Christ is already ours. Christ has set us free to run through life without the need to look back over our shoulders, without prejudice for those who run alongside, without jealousy for those who are out front, and with our eye on the finish line.
Ever heard this line? “Watch where you’re going.” Parents says it to kids. Bump into someone you might hear it. Coaches say it to runners. St. Paul says it to us.
Where are you going? Life has many distractions. We want our words to reflect Christ, but profanity is so prevalent it is hard to go out in public. We want our minds on the things of Christ while we watch media that stacks sin upon sin with no remorse or counter opinion. We want our eyes looking heavenward but pride, greed, envy, lust and laziness stand up in front of us. We want hearts filled with Christ but we clog our arteries with apathy, indifference, and selfishness. We want to be loving to others, but self gets in the way. A psychiatrist had this sign on his door: “Specializing in people who have no idea who they are.” When we are wrapped up in ourselves we make a very small parcel.
Where was St. Paul’s focus? Look at his deeds and life and writings and we get the picture. St. Paul knew the Scriptures. Eric Liddell knew the Scriptures. Do we know the Scriptures? As the Holy Spirit helps us study and learn He will empower and run alongside us. The Word of God is much better than Wheaties.
St. Paul focused on telling the Good News. With his eye on the finish line, He worked to proclaim the Gospel to large audiences and individuals. When we repent of our distractions with our words and minds and eyes and hearts and actions, the Lord can forgive and keep us moving toward the finish line. He won that for you too on a Sunday when a tomb was empty. With this new outlook and heaven on the horizon we can share the news of Jesus on the track where the Lord has us running.
Back in 8th grade I ran competitive track for the first time. The Lord blessed me with speed, and I was able to cross the finish line first numerous times. On the 4 x 100 Relay I ran the anchor or last leg. My buddies and I won at the District level on a cinder track. Remember those? We then went to the Sectional and it was on an all-weather track. The race began and by the time the baton got to me, well, I would have had to have been Usain Bolt to even place. This is what I remember: I never glided on a track so effortlessly, no cinder just pure comfort. But all I could see were the backs of the other runners. So peaceful but 6th out of 8 teams wouldn’t cut it this day. I finished but we were disappointed.
That can be a picture of life. You feel you are behind from the start. But as Christians we keep going with the peace of Christ. He leads the effort. He makes the path. He has already won the race. We see the finish line. On your run, get set to tell the Good News about Jesus to everyone you know, and go . . . why? Because the Lord has focused your eye on the finish line.
Amen.