Tim Tebow and Eric Liddell, athletes with a mission

Tim Tebow, quarterback for the Colorado Broncos, a National Football League team gives glory to God in a manner reminiscient of Scottish athlete Eric Liddell, inspiration for a movie that won four Oscars including Best Picture in 1981 called Chariots of Fire.

Both Tebow and Liddell were born of missionary parents and rose to the height of their professions praising God. Whether viewers espouse similar beliefs or not, it must be acknowledged that the combination of talent and faith present within each, worked miracles.

LIddell refused to run in an Olympic 100m heat held on the Christian Sabbath, though it was his best event, refocusing his efforts, training for the 400m. When he approached the starting blocks for the 400m, an American Olympic Team masseur handed him a piece of paper containing words from the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel, verse 2:30:

"Those who honor me I will honor." Liddell went on to break a record in the 400m.

Before the Bronco's first playoff game against the Steelers, Tebow shared words from the New Testament book of Hebrews, verses 12:1-2 with social media followers:

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

The Broncos went on to defeat the Steelers, who were favored to win by 20 points.

Eric Liddell was born in Tianjin, North China in 1902 where his parents Reverend an Mrs. James Dunlop Liddell were Scottish missionaries with the London Missionary Society.

According to The Eric Liddell Centre in Scotland, Chariots of Fire, representing the Olympic achievement of Eric Liddell, generated lines this devout Christian did not say, including the infamous, "God made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure."

However this charity, dedicated to inspiring, empowering and supporting people of all ages, cultures and abilities as an expression of compassionate Christian values believes the gold medalist did say, "The secret of my success over the 400m is that I run the 200m as fast as I can. Then, for the second 200m, with God's help I run faster."

Eric Liddell believed everything he did should give God pleasure. In 1943, while working in Tianjin as a missionary, he was interned at the Weihsien Internment Camp. Though suffering, he continued to give God pleasure, caring for the elderly, teaching Science and Bible classes and organizing games for interned children.

A fellow prisoner wrote in his journal, "It was in February, 1945, (which was to be five months before the end of the war) that we were playing outside the camp hospital. The nurse on duty passed a note out of the window "Eric Liddell would like you to play Finlandia". We gladly obliged, and played it, thinking of the words:

Be still, my soul. The Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In ever change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul - thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end."

Liddell died within the week of a brain tumor. He was 43 and left a wife and three daughters, Patricia, Heather and Maureen.

Tim Tebow was born in the Philippines on August 14, 1987. His parents felt the call to become Christian missionaries in 1985. His father Robert founded the Bob Tebow Evangelistic Association, which continues its work in the Philippines to this day.

While in Makati City, pregnant with Tim, Pamela Tebow developed a severe infection. Treatment caused the placenta to separate from her uterus. Despite the reality that this condition has a fetal mortality rate of 20-40% and results in maternal death, Mrs. Tebow chose to carry Tim to term, and call him a miracle baby.

What doesn't kill us makes us stronger certainly applies in the case of this 6'3", 236 pound 24 year old athlete. Tebow told Arnie Stapleton and the The Associated Press that he knows his openness about his religion can be divisive but he feels compelled to share his story of salvation regardless of the sensitivity of the subject, and he relayed one of his favorite quotes: “I don’t know what my future holds, but I know who holds my future.”

He says his faith allows him to focus on football. "To get me through? Without a doubt, 100 percent," Tebow said. "And that's the thing about my faith: it's not just something that happens when you're at church or happens when you're praying or reading the Scripture. It's part of who you are, as a person, as a player, in your life and everything."

He has four older siblings and the eldest brother Robbie runs The Tim Tebow Foundation, which raises money for Dreams Come True, Cure International, Timmy's Playroom and Uncle Dick's Orphanage.

I believe the following message, though not actually spoken by Eric Liddell, was communicated in the way he lived his life. Tim Tebow seems to carry a similar, unfathomable energy.

"You came to see a race today. To see someone win. It happened to be me. But I want you to do more than just watch a race. I want you to take part in it.

"I want to compare faith to running in a race. It's hard. It requires concentration of will, energy of soul. You experience elation when the winner breaks the tape- especially if you've got a bet on it. But how long does that last?

"You go home. Maybe your dinner's burnt. Maybe you haven't got a job. So who am I to say, "Believe, have faith," in the face of life's realities? I would like to give you something more permanent, but I can only point the way.

"I have no formula for winning the race. Everyone runs in her own way, or his own way. And where does the power come from to see the race to its end? From within.

"Jesus said, "Behold, the Kingdom of God is within you. If with all your hearts, you truly seek me, you shall ever surely find me." If you commit yourself to the love of Christ, then that is how you run a straight race."

Colin Welland, writer, original screenplay, Chariots of Fire

Now that Tebow is no longer a Bronco, will he head toward missionary work? Follow him at his official site,

http://www.timtebow.com/