My Hope is Built on Nothing Less

God’s goal is people. He’ll stir up a storm to display his power. He’ll keep you out of Asia so you’ll speak to Lydia. He’ll place you in prison so you’ll talk to the jailer. He might even sideline a quarterback in the biggest game of the season. This happened in the 2010 BCS National Championship Game. Colt McCoy, the University of Texas quarterback, had enjoyed four years of open doors. He was the winningest signal caller in the history of collegiate football.

But in the National Championship Game, the most important contest of his university career, a shoulder injury put him out of the game in the first quarter. “Slam” went the door. Colt spent most of the game in the locker room. I don’t know if he, like Paul and Silas, was singing, but we know he was trusting. For after the game, he said these words: I love this game … I’ve done everything I can to contribute to my team … It’s unfortunate I didn’t get to play.

I would have given everything I had to be out there with my team. But … I always give God the glory. I never question why things happen the way they do. God is in control of my life. And I know that, if nothing else, I’m standing on the rock. Even on a bad night, Colt gave testimony to a good God. Did God close the door on the game so he could open the door of a heart? Colt’s father would say so. A young football player approached Brad McCoy after he returned from the game and asked, “I heard what your son said after the game, but I have one question. What is the rock?”

McCoy responded, “Well, son, we sing about him at church,” and began singing the hymn:

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ Name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.