Eric Liddell was the subject of a rather famous 1981 movie called “Chariots of Fire.†Most children of the seventies remember this film at least by reputation. One of the plot lines in the movie revolves around Liddell’s convictions. He refuses to run in an important race because the promoters have scheduled it on Sunday, the Sabbath. When I was reminded of this recently, I couldn’t help but think about how foreign such an action seems in our day even among Christians.
The Pharisees of Jesus’ day were famous for turning the commandments about the Sabbath into a complex and burdening system of specifics. They had codified over 600 copious laws into a canon. The bound up burdens upon the shoulders of the people and in so doing robbed people of the rest the Sabbath was created to deliver to God’s creation. Jesus reminded them that the Sabbath was made for man and not vice versa.
I can’t help wonder though if we Christians in our day are the polar opposite of the Pharisees. We have created hundreds of reason not to observe the Sabbath as both a day of physical rest and spiritual renewal.
Let me list just a few of these reasons considered nearly airtight in our day:
I have to work. - The fields are ready.
- The game is today.
- Visitors are in town.
- It is hot.
- It is cold.
- It is perfect weather.
- Coach scheduled practice.
- I am tired.
- I never get to sleep.
- Not working is laziness.
- Saturday was a long day.
- Sunday is a family day.
Do I want to legalistically lay out the rules again like the Pharisees? Hardly. But I do want people to rethink the way they despise the gift of the Sabbath God has given to his people. I want all of us to consider what we are choosing as worthy substitutes for this treasure. I want to exhort myself to choose the needful thing over all the other desirables.
Eric Liddell did not run in order that he might have the good thing. God wants you to have this good thing also. If you have refused it, confess that and receive it anew. He never says no to giving gifts.
