Chariots of Fire & The Gospel

Chariots of Fire is among my top 5 favorite films. I first watched this movie in 4th grade when I chose to do my biography report on Eric Liddell. This last weekend I watched Chariots along with my wife who had never seen the film.I like this movie for many reasons, but mostly because Chariots of Fire illustrates the gospel in a sharp, memorable manner. The storyline of Chariots can be boiled down to a sentence: two men run fast for two very different reasons.Harold Abrahams is a conflicted character who pours all of who he is into running fast in order to gain acceptance, identity, and recognition. At one point in the film, as he nears his climactic Olympic race, Abrahams trembles with fear and speaks of the "justification" he seeks through his running.In sharp contrast, Eric Liddell is a joyful character who pours his energy into running fast precisely because he's already been given acceptance, identity, and recognition. As Liddell memorably states in the film, when he runs he "feels God's pleasure."The motivation for Abrahams' running is a religious motivation: a drive to accomplish and achieve (run) in order to receive acceptance from God and others.The motivation for Liddell's running is a gospel motivation: a drive to use his gifts and talents (run) as a grateful, joyful response to the acceptance he already has in God.For me no other film so sharply illustrates what the good news is and what the good news isn't like Chariots of Fire.Chariots of Fire reminds me that Christianity isn't a Harold Abrahams athletic contest: a constant striving and obeying in hopes of achieving an adequate performance that will cause God to accept me.Chariots of Fire reminds me that Christianity is all about the gospel. Christianity is a Eric Liddell celebration of grace: a run of joy and gratitude in response to the perfect performance of Christ who has already crossed the finish line for me, winning and freely bestowing upon me acceptance with God.