It’s that time of year again, graduation! Kids, sorry, young adults, are graduating from kindergarten, high school, and college. Many graduates have probably received many cards, and after looking to see if there was any money in them, hopefully they read what was written to the graduate from the one who gave them the card. I would like to write something to the graduates as well. I would ask that all the graduates, and everyone else look back in time to a guy by the name of Eric Liddell “The Flying Scotsman”. Does that name ring a bell? They made a movie about him many years after his death by the name of Chariots of Fire in 1981. In 1924 he was supposed to compete in the Olympics representing Great Britain in the 100-meter race. He was a hero in his home country of Scotland. He was a shoe in to win. There was just one problem, Eric was a Christian, and the race was to be held on Sunday. Eric apologized but said he felt as if it was wrong to compete on Sunday. No, this is not saying it is wrong to do anything on Sunday, Eric just felt a strong conviction that he should not. Well, the hero went to zero in his home country. Everyone that hailed him as a hero days ago now called him a traitor, but Eric was adamant. Someone suggested to Eric to attempt to qualify for the 400-meter race, which he had only ran a few times in his life and was not his specialty, but would not be held on Sunday. Eric qualified, but not with a great time, which earned him the dreaded outside lane. To make a long story short, Eric won the 400-meter race! The zero went back to the hero when he crossed the finish line. Afterwards Eric could have led a life of ease. The hero had job offers from everywhere. Instead, Eric chose to go into the family business. His parents were missionaries in China, and he was born and raised in China. Eric became a missionary to China. To make another long story short, Eric spent the rest of his life in China as a missionary. He had many chances to leave, and was advised to leave when the Japanese invaded China and were imprisoning foreigners. He chose to send his wife and kids to Canada for safety but he stayed. Eric died in 1945 in China in a Japanese prisoner of war camp with a brain tumor. Some may say what a waste, with all his talent and education he could have gone so far in life. The thing is Eric was not concerned about going far in this life, he was looking to eternity. Eric loved the Chinese people, and he loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Bible says in Mark 9:35: “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” There is nothing wrong with achievement and having things. But as we look to Eric’s example, I encourage all the graduates, and all of us for that matter, to put God first, seek and serve Him above all else, and to love others as we love ourselves. Before Eric’s 400-meter race, he was handed a note that read “In the Old Book it says, He that honors Me I will honor.” If we do that, we will all be winners at the finish line!