Nocompromise

For months Eric Liddel trained as a track athlete for the purpose of winning the 100 meter race in the Olympics of 1924. Sports writers all over the country predicted that Liddel would win the 100 meters. And then he learned that the 100 meter race in 1924 in the Olympics was scheduled for Sunday. This posed a problem. Eric believed that he could not honor God by running in the contest on the Lord’s day. His fans were stunned by his refusal. Some who had praised him began to call him a fool and the press laughed at Eric Liddel because he wouldn’t run on Sunday.

Suddenly, a runner dropped out of the 400 meter race and they had no alternate to take his place and it was scheduled for a week day. Eric offered to fill the slot even though this is four times as long as the race he had trained to run. When he ran the race, Eric Liddel won the race. In 1924, "The Flying Scotsman" had a gold medal and a world record, 47.6 seconds. Incredible time. Most important of all, Eric Liddell had kept his commitment to his convictions of faith. And he was a winner. Later, Eric Liddel went to China as a missionary and in 1945 he died there serving the Lord...ever as uncompromising as he had been before.

Does every man have his price? Will everyone of us sell out at some point or another? Do all of us have moral standards that are only valid insofar as they accommodate our desires? Or, do we then when we have a greater desire, set it aside for the sake of those standards which we say we believe?

The bible speaks about many men and women of God who are took a stand of no compromise in their believes. One of them is about Daniel. Daniel along with 10,000 other Jews had just been deported to Babylon from Judea by Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel and his three friends remain faithful to God Jehovah by not submitting to the ungodly request of their captors such as eating of unclean food and worshiping foreign gods. There is price to be paid when we do not compromise on our faith. For example, Daniel has to go through Fiery Furnace and Lion’s den experience. But God is a faithful God.e was there with them during the ordeal. In fact the Bible states that God rewarded Daniel and his 3 friends for their stand of no compromise. Here are some example:

1. Giving them supernatural strength and health (Dan 1:15-16)

2. Ability to excel in their studies and making them smart (Dan 1:17-20)

3. Giving them supernatural gifts – ability to know and interpret the dream of the King. (Dan 1:17)

4. Raising them to be the top government official (Dan 2:48-49)

How can we be like Daniel and his 3 friends in this 21st Century? Here are some pointers:

1. Knowing who is our God

2. Knowing the source of our help and strength

3. Knowing that there are price to pay and there are reward awaiting for us for living an uncompromising life

Let us today strive to live a life of uncompromising faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. A quote from Blaise Pascal says "the serene, silent beauty of a holy life is the most powerful influence in the world, next to the might of God"

Honor God in all you do, and He will honor your obedience with a life that counts for eternity. "Complete surrender" to Christ is total victory.

Be Blessed.