Eric Liddell, Glory, and the Buried Seed

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“Surrender--stillness--a ready welcoming of all stripping, all loss, all that brings us low, low into the Lord's path of humility--a cherishing of every whisper of the Spirit's voice, every touch of the prompting that comes to quicken the hidden life within: that is the way God's human seed-vessels ripen, and Christ becomes "magnified" even through the things that seem against us. "Mine but to be still: Thine the glorious power, Thine the mighty will.” 

― Lilias Trotter

"It is surrender." 

- Eric Liddell to a friend on the day that he died at age 43 (source)

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I love the story about Eric Liddell. Liddell's quiet determination, bold confidence, and dedication to his God speak a profound message to our hearts. Eric Liddell, by the grace and power of God, ran his race well. His life, his story, is an example to us.  

The film, Chariots of Fire, focuses mainly upon the literal race that Eric won, and the race which he chose not to run because of his conviction not to participate in sporting events on Sundays. 

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Curious to learn more about Eric Liddell, I read the biography detailing his life written by David McCasland. Later, I watched a documentary based upon that movie, which really gave a glimpse into the whole scope of Eric's life, not only the single race that he is famous for. 

Liddell came from a missionary family and very soon after his brief Olympic career, he went to China as a missionary himself, dying in his early 40s from a brain aneurysm in a Japanese internment camp during WWII. He chose to remain in China even though the opportunity had been offered to him to leave. Liddell's heart was bound up and buried in the cause that the Lord had planted there--and the love of the Lord constrained him. He died in China. 

Eric Liddell's life has whispered to me a lesson, among others, but a quiet lesson that has spoken to me softly and been impressed upon my heart over the past years, and it is this:

There are times that we run, when the gifts and abilities that God has given us put us in the "spotlight." These are the times that we choose whether the glory through the gifts that He has given us will be for us or for our Savior. We make our decision before the world's watching eyes. Eric Liddell chose to honor his Heavenly Father, and in turn, the Father richly rewarded the Scottish athlete. 

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And then . . .  there are times when we take off our "running shoes" and become lost in a foreign land--where no one knows us, where our lives become buried in His service; we are planted in the darkness.

What is Liddell mainly known for? His brief Olympic career. The decision that sparked controversy and debate and admiration and thought. But not much is known about what happened to him afterward.

Liddell's love and devotion for Jesus Christ brought him onto the Olympic field of victory and gave him the spiritual victory of refusing to compromise his conscience for the sake of earthly gold. 

It also brought him onto the mission field. There his life was "used up" in a very different way than it had been before. We admire Eric Liddell for his courage and conviction on the Olympic field. I believe that it was that same courage and conviction that drove Liddell into China. 

And there he was "buried." And there he was used quietly for the Lord's purposes--without any physical pomp or wreaths of victory or gold medals. Only spiritual ones. No one sang his praises. No one really noticed him as much. 

How many of us are in a hidden place right now, buried? We have laid aside our gifts and talents for a season or are using them "non-visibly;" in some simple way we serve. 

Sometimes we feel starved. We want to do something "significant," "important." We do not realize that perhaps we ARE doing the most significant thing . . . 

And the Lord has buried us, spoken to us, urged us through His Spirit to lay aside our cherished gifts for awhile to be used in His service in some very quiet, unnoticed way. 

So that when we do emerge from the darkness, like a seed into the spring-light--others will not see us, but Him--as the light of the great Sun is what makes the plant reflecting it a thing of beauty. 

Our gifts are to reflect His pleasure. Our seasons of stillness and quietness, of "buried-ness" are to absorb His pleasure--to grow intimately closer to Him--as Paul did in the years before his ministry. 

There are seasons in our lives of glory and seasons when the Lord speaks and says step back, wait, grow, be used in the quiet places. 

A season of Olympic glory for Eric Liddell, then a season of quiet buried-ness in China. Both seasons greatly used by the Lord, both glorifying to Him. 

And sometimes we think that we need to use all of our gifts all the time . . . but there are seasons, just as the earth bows its head in winter, quietly, humbly and submits to death . . . for the purpose of being resurrected in the spring. And all to reflect the Great Father's glory. 

Oswald Chambers says, 

The great enemy of the life of faith in God is not sin, but the good which is not good enough. The good is always the enemy of the best.

Because whatever God's will is for us in the now, in our present season is His best. 

We lay aside our glory. 

Jesus laid aside His glory . . . the glory rightfully His, the glory of heaven. To become a Man. To humble himself for a season. To be buried. 

Life poured from that buried Seed, resurrected, eternal, joy-filling life.

Our buried seasons will also bring forth life--

They are not wasted. 

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For anyone wishing to learn more about the life of Eric Liddell, I have found these to be very good resources:

• Eric Liddell: Pure Gold, by David McCasland (biography)

• Chariots of Fire (film)

• The Story of Eric Liddell, Olympic Champion, Man of Courage (documentary)

You might find me on these link-ups:

Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth, Inspire Me Monday, Literacy Musing Mondays, The Modest Mom, What Joy is Mine, SDG Gathering, A Mama's Story, Mom's the Word, Rich Faith Rising, Time Warp Wife, Cornerstone Confessions, Mom's Morning Coffee, Motivate and Rejuvenate Mondays,, Raising Homemakers, Hope in Every Season, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Ministries, Whole-Hearted Home, Testimony Tuesday, Tell His Story, A Soft Gentle Voice, My Daily Walk in His Grace, Women With Intention Wednesdays, Messy Marriage, The Charm of Home, Graced Simplicity, Theology Thursdays, Children Are A Blessing, Imparting Grace, A Look at the Book, Essential Thing Devotions, Thought Provoking Thursday, Count My Blessings, Christian Mommy Blogger, Renewed Daily, Soul Survival, Good Morning Mondays, The Weekend Brew, Blessing Counters Link Party, The HomeAcre Hop, Mommy Moments Link Up, Grace and Truth Linkup, Faith Filled Friday, Tell It To Me Tuesdays, SHINE Blog Hop, Faith and  Fellowship Blog Hop, Motivate and Rejuvenate Monday Link-Up, A Little R&R Wednesdays. TGI Saturdays Blog Hop. Totally Terrific Tuesday, RaRaLinkup, Word of God Speak, Booknificent Thursday

He Didn't Send a Shark

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My little 3-year-old is fascinated  right now with "role-playing" the Bible stories that she hears. She will play the part of Jonah while I am assigned to "The Fish" --although she assures me that her Dad's fish re-enactment is more convincing than mine :-). 

I've been thinking about the prophet Jonah lately. A 2-part series of excellent messages given by apologist and teacher Ravi Zacharias on the book of Jonah deeply spoke to my heart over this past summer (I'm hoping to share more about that later) and the Pastor at the church that we've been attending addressed him in a sermon as well that was really insightful and excellent. 

But something somewhat unrelated to the sermons that I heard on the book of Jonah struck me over the past few weeks -- after my daughter and I had been discussing the story of Jonah -- his rebellion, repentance, subsequent obedience, and then sullen pouting over the Lord's mercy upon Ninevah. 

That the Lord didn't send a shark. 

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He didn't send a shark; He sent a "great fish." He sent something huge and frightening and eye-opening and confining, but He didn't send something consuming and terminating. 

He knew Jonah's heart. He knew his fear and his stubbornness, and the deep feelings of resentment that Jonah harbored toward a people who had committed such atrocities against the surrounding nations and against his own. He knew Jonah's heart, understood it, and yet, still required obedience. And He still held compassion for the Ninevite people -- even their animals. 

He sent a great fish, something that swallowed Jonah up and caused him to take a hard look at his rebellion and stubbornness and to cry out to God in the midst of it all. And serve as a picture of Jesus Christ, resurrected from the dead. 

Jonah was resurrected from the dead. The death of a hard place. The death of an impossible situation. And in a strange paradox, he experienced the death of self -- of having no other place to turn except to God in repentance and humility and trust and surrender.

We serve a merciful Father. He could have put Jonah "on the shelf," so to speak. He could have let Jonah go his own way and called someone else to do Jonah's job. He could have sent a shark. He could have allowed Jonah to drown in the pressing, unyielding waves. 

Instead, he relentlessly pursued Jonah, with a storm, with a fish, with a hot searing wind, with faintness. 

He pursued Jonah; he engaged his heart and his intellect and his reason. 

He pursued Jonah; He sent a fish.

When He could have sent a shark. He could have poured out His wrath upon the rebellious prophet -- He could have displayed His power and authority to one little Jewish man who dared to question His judgement and authority. 

He could have consumed Jonah. 

But instead He sent a fish, a great fish. He stopped Jonah from running and put him in a place where he had to listen and cry out to God. 

Sometimes we find ourselves figuratively, in the belly of a fish; God has put us there. We are in  a place where nothing is left to us but to cry out to God. And we think for a moment that we are being consumed. But we're not. We're receiving His mercy. And the place that seems like a tomb of death is really the instrument of our deliverance. 

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I read a story, a long time ago now, about a naturalist who was documenting the survival of a flock of juncos (snowbirds) in a harsh winter. She was to record what happened to the juncos over the course of an extremely cold night in blizzard conditions. The temperature dipped well below freezing and the little birds were fighting for their survival. She was not allowed to intervene in any way while she was documenting over the course of the assigned hours. 

The woman struggled not to intervene as she watched the little birds. One junco especially caught her attention; he seemed weaker than the rest. The wind howled and the night grew dark. The little flock flew into a bush as the snow fell hard and deep. The woman felt overwhelmed and finally went to bed, despairing of what would happen to them, especially the weak little junco who had gained her sympathy. 

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In the morning she flew to the window and beheld the world covered in a thick encrusting of snow. She felt that the juncos could not have survived such conditions until, all of a sudden, the bush where they had flown into the night before, covered completely in a thick layer of snow,  literally burst open. 

The snow from the blizzard had actually kept them warm, provided them a shelter from the frigid cold and preserved their lives. The snow that appeared to be the enemy had actually given them protection and warmth in the midst of the storm. It had been their salvation. (The woman records that then she joyfully threw out handfuls of seed to the birds; she was no longer recording and was so glad that they had survived, especially the weak little junco). 

At times, we think that God has put us in a confining, fearful place -- but that place is actually our salvation -- the situation is actually the catalyst to our surrender  and dependence upon Him. We think that we will be consumed; instead we are saved and given renewed vision to accomplish His will. 

In our "tomb of death," we receive life--and our confinement becomes a sanctuary to quiet our hearts and to hear the voice of God. 

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He is merciful. In Him, we are not consumed. Our difficulties become places of deliverance and where it looks like there is no hope, an empty shore awaits us and the grace to preach His Gospel in and through it all. 

He sends the great fish; He rescues and delivers. In the unexpected place, He gives His grace and salvation.

And we, like Jonah, are not consumed. 


You might find me on these link-ups:

Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth, Inspire Me Monday, Literacy Musing Mondays, The Modest Mom, What Joy is Mine, SDG Gathering, A Mama's Story, Mom's the Word, Rich Faith Rising, Time Warp Wife, Cornerstone Confessions, Mom's Morning Coffee, Motivate and Rejuvenate Mondays,, Raising Homemakers, Hope in Every Season, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Ministries, Whole-Hearted Home, Testimony Tuesday, Tell His Story, A Soft Gentle Voice, My Daily Walk in His Grace, Women With Intention Wednesdays, Messy Marriage, The Charm of Home, Graced Simplicity, Theology Thursdays, Children Are A Blessing, Imparting Grace, A Look at the Book, Essential Thing Devotions, Thought Provoking Thursday, Count My Blessings, Christian Mommy Blogger, Renewed Daily, Soul Survival, Good Morning Mondays, The Weekend Brew, Blessing Counters Link Party, The HomeAcre Hop, Mommy Moments Link Up, Grace and Truth Linkup, Faith Filled Friday, Tell It To Me Tuesdays, SHINE Blog Hop, Faith and  Fellowship Blog Hop, Motivate and Rejuvenate Monday Link-Up, A Little R&R Wednesdays. TGI Saturdays Blog Hop. Totally Terrific Tuesday, RaRaLinkup, Word of God Speak, Booknificent Thursday

My Reading List for 2016

The following are books that I *hope* to read in the coming year. I love to read, but having very young children has dramatically altered the amount of time that I am able to spend "behind the books." :-) And so this is not a long list, but it is a practical one for me at this time in my life. I am really looking forward to each one. Maybe you will find one among them that you might enjoy, too (pictures and titles are clickable links)--

How I Found Livingstone, by Henry Morton Stanley

This is a book that was given to me for my birthday. I love, love, love missionary/Christian biographies, and so this one has a special "drawing" for me, but not for that reason alone. This past year, I made a difficult decision that was painful and costly for me, only by the grace of God. At the time when I was prayerfully arriving at this decision, the Lord spoke to me powerfully through a message that Ravi Zacharias gave. In it, he mentioned the missionary David Livingstone and this particular biography. I won't go into much detail here, because I am hoping to write more about it later, but Livingstone's testimony deeply touched me and I felt compelled to read this book. 

Authentic Fire, by Michael L. Brown

This was actually one of my husband's Christmas presents that I mean to confiscate. ;-). As a very Conservative believer who holds that God still speaks (not primarily, but occasionally) through dreams, visions, and impressions upon our hearts and minds -- according to His Word and by His Spirit), I was very glad to see this respectful rebuttal of well-known theologian John MacArthur's position on this topic (cessationism). Through extensive reading of missionary biographies, the testimony of the persecuted church (especially in closed countries) and through my own experience, I am convinced that the Holy Spirit still works as He did with New Testament believers, in a living, breathing, active way. I am looking forward to delving into Michael Brown's position and examples on this topic. 

The Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence

This is a short book that I'm hoping to include in my devotional time. Brother Lawrence's deep love and thirst after God comes through strongly in his writings. He inspires me to live a life more devoted to Christ through his example. The little "chew" mark at the top of the book? From a house bunny. :-) They can be very sweet pets, but also very mischievous. :-)

Streams in the Desert, compiled by L.B. Cowman

I began this devotional last year and am planning to continue it this year. The Lord has used these beautiful, Christ-saturated writings from older authors to speak to my heart deeply over the past several months. I'm looking forward to continuing with it. 

Outlasting the Gay Revolution, by Michael L. Brown

In light of the Supreme Court decision, this book really piqued my interest this year. I purchased the book and have been anticipating reading it. I love Micheal Brown's godly, gracious, unwavering positions, and admire his courage in writing on such a difficult topic. As believers we must be prepared Scripturally and spiritually to stand on the Word of God, even when it will cost us--and above all, our position undergirded with love. 

God's Good News Bible Storybook, by Billy Graham

I was so happy when our family received this book for Christmas! I try to have a daily quiet time with my young children, and had been hoping to find a new devotional for this year. This one is wonderful . . . We began it and my young daughter especially loves it (my son is still a little too young to express his opinions! :-)). The pictures are vivid and engaging and the devotion itself is deeply rooted in Scripture. Something that I also personally like is that the Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version, which is the version that I like to use, so that is an added blessing for me!  

And there you have it, my reading list for 2016. What are you hoping to read in the coming year? 






You might find me on these link-ups:

Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth, Inspire Me Monday, Literacy Musing Mondays, The Modest Mom, What Joy is Mine, SDG Gathering, A Mama's Story, Mom's the Word, Rich Faith Rising, Time Warp Wife, Cornerstone Confessions, Mom's Morning Coffee, Motivate and Rejuvenate Mondays, So Much at Home, Raising Homemakers, Hope in Every Season, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Ministries, Whole-Hearted Home, Testimony Tuesday, Tell His Story, A Soft Gentle Voice, My Daily Walk in His Grace, Women With Intention Wednesdays, Messy Marriage, The Charm of Home, Graced Simplicity, Theology Thursdays, Children Are A Blessing, Mittenstate Sheep and Wool, Imparting Grace, Preparedness Mama, A Look at the Book, Essential Thing Devotions, Thought Provoking Thursday, Every Day Jesus, Count My Blessings, Christian Mommy Blogger, Renewed Daily, Soul Survival, Good Morning Mondays, The Weekend Brew, Blessing Counters Link Party, The HomeAcre Hop, Mommy Moments Link Up, Grace and Truth Linkup, Faith Filled Friday, Saturday Soiree Blog Party, Tell It To Me Tuesdays, SHINE Blog Hop, Faith and  Fellowship Blog Hop, Motivate and Rejuvenate Monday Link-Up, A Little R&R Wednesdays. TGI Saturdays Blog Hop. Totally Terrific Tuesday, RaRaLinkup