CHARIOTS OF FIRE (1981)

Directed by: Hugh Hudson
Written by: Colin Welland
Studio: Warner Brothers
Starring: Ian Charleson, Ben Cross, Ian Holm, Nicholas Farrell
Rated: PG

About the film:
Two very different runners compete in the 1924 Olympics. One is a Christian missionary who runs for joy; the other is a Jew who runs to win. Together, they represent the very best the UK has to offer.

Movie Quote:
“Then where does the power come from, to see the race to its end? From within.”
Eric Liddell (Ian Charleson) in Chariots of Fire (1981)

Bible Quote:
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.”
Hebrews 12:1-2a (NIV)


Commentary:
For Eric Liddell, running was a spiritual activity. He felt that the surge of power that coursed through him as he ran connected him with his Creator. Not all of us will share that experience with him however God does use the sport in His Word to teach us other lessons.

Athletic imagery abounds in the scriptures. God continually exhorts us to endure or to “see our race” through to the finish line. It is an image which dynamically communicates.

A race has a definite beginning and end. It has boundaries or lanes within which we must stay. Many times there are obstacles in our way over which we must hurdle. But our focus is always to be on our ultimate goal… the finish line.

Many times during the race, we may be tempted to quit… to stop running… to give up. God reminds us to look at the examples of all those who have run the race before us. We are to learn from them and build the enabling strength and the motivation hope that causes us to endure until the race has finished.

And so we live our lives day by day as we would run a race; strengthening ourselves with the power of God and drawing encouragement from the believing men and women who have touched our lives with their great witness.

Questions to consider while watching the film:
1. Was Liddell right or wrong not to run on Sunday? Why or why not?
2. Who are the “witnesses” who surround us and give us encouragement to complete the race? How do they encourage us?

Michael Elliott
http://screensermon.blogspot.com