Living a Life Worthy

 A few weeks ago I mentioned Eric Lidell in a blog.  He was the “Flying Scotsman” of 1924 Olympic fame.  The movie in1981 that launched his story into world news was “Chariots of Fire”.  Who can hear the theme song and not want to go jogging?

 

The other day, while surfing through the Christian movie channel online, we found “On Wings of Eagles”.  It’s a more modern version of Eric Lidell’s life story, taking up where “Chariots of Fire” left off. It was well done and stayed true to the man, but it lacked the beautiful music of the former movie, and since it focused on his death was not near as much fun to watch. I was left, however with the thought that I had gotten a glimpse of the “real” hero of the faith. 


And while I’m at it, here’s another “hero”, but this one is a fictional character. His name comes up in the book “Hawaii”, by James Michner, and goes by Abner Hale. In the story, which was loosely based on truth, he was a Congregationalist missionary to Hawaii in the early 1800’s.


Having watched the story of Lydell’s life while also reading Michner’s novel, I was struck by these two men. I couldn’t help but set them up side by side. What was obviously apparent at the outset was that both of these men felt undeniably CALLED by God to “win the Lost”. Neither could be criticized for his lack of commitment, nor for his determination to spread the Gospel. I did take note of a couple of factors for which missionaries are often evaluated. Eric Lidell, born in China, had a natural love for the people to whom he ministered. He was surrounded by his flock all through his life and was grieved over when he died. Abner, on the other hand, was a relative newcomer to his mission field, and not surprisingly, never succeeded in understanding nor appreciating the culture. Much of his energy was devoted to changing the ways of those to whom he labeled as ”Heathens”, to the extent that he rarely had time to show them the “Way” to salvation through Jesus. As a result, he lost his battle on several fronts, including the one with his own sanity.


One true story, one fictional. But in the telling, we’re given a fresh look at what it means to be completely sold out to God. Being sold out to God is a lifetime challenge, and thanks to His wonderful grace, is not a Pass/Fail endeavor. It’s a relationship builder with the One Who made me.

 

And what does that means to you and me? I couldn’t say it any better than the Apostle Paul:

 

“I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.”

 


Marsha

 

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