Songsmith Music
Get in touch with me at songsmithmusic1@gmail.com
The Story Behind The Song
Recently, I was doing a Bible study with some friends, and the author of the study shared the incredible story of Eric Liddell. That name might sound familiar, especially if you’ve seen the iconic movie Chariots of Fire from 1981, which captured his inspiring story.
Who Was Eric Liddell?
Eric Liddell was born in China to Scottish missionary parents, though he grew up in Scotland. He became known not only as an exceptional athlete but also as a deeply devout and inspirational Christian. He was a man of integrity, whose commitment to his faith was unwavering, even in the face of personal cost.
The Dilemma at the 1924 Olympics
Regarded as one of the fastest men on Earth at the time, Liddell qualified for the 1924 Olympics in Paris and an excited Scotland pinned its hopes on him to win the country’s first-ever Olympic gold medal. However, a moral dilemma arose: the time trials for his event were scheduled on a Sunday. As a devout Christian, Liddell would not run on the Sabbath, a decision that led some to call him a traitor to his country. But Eric stood firm in his beliefs.
Remarkably, another Scotsman offered to let Liddell take his place in the 400-meter race, a race in which he had little experience and even less expectation of winning. But Eric, driven by his faith, accepted the challenge—and to the astonishment of everyone, not only did he win the race, but he set a new world record! Following His True Calling Despite his victory and newfound fame, Liddell knew that his ultimate calling wasn’t in sports—it was to share the love of Jesus. After the Olympics, he returned to China to continue the work his parents had started as missionaries. His heart was set on spreading the message of Christ to those in need. As he prepared to leave Scotland for China, a crowd gathered at the train station to bid him farewell. In that moment, Eric Liddell famously declared, "Christ for the world, for the worldneeds Christ!" The Inspiration for My Song When I read those words, my heart was stirred. It is such a powerful message of hope, and it felt like a call to action for me as well. It was clear to me that this message needed to be shared in a new way, through song. A song that would remind us all of the importance of standing firm in our beliefs, of living lives of integrity, and of remembering that Christ is the answer for the world’s deepest needs. In the Bible, John 3:16 reminds us of the greatest gift ever given: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” This is the heart of the message I wanted to convey through my song. A Message of Hope Eric Liddell’s story is an inspiring testament to the power of faith. His courage to stand firm in his convictions, even when faced with adversity, is a reminder to us all that we are called to live with purpose and integrity. His life was a living declaration of the truth that Christ is for the world, and that message is as relevant today as it was then. I hope that the song inspires you to not only receive the love of Christ, but also share it with a world in need.