Nothing Less

Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.

I am standing in church, singing with the congregation as we worship together. The lyrics to “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less” appear on the screen, and as soon as the song begins, I sense a noticeable difference in the congregation. People of all ages and backgrounds join in singing these words that reach the depths of the human heart:

My hope is built on nothing less

than Jesus Christ, my righteousness

I dare not trust the sweetest frame

but wholly lean on Jesus’ name^a

This song was penned by an imperfect person like me who came to understand that everything crumbles when we do not build our hope on Christ or do not center our souls on him.

The guitarist plays and we continue singing:

On Christ the solid Rock, I stand

All other ground is sinking sand

All other ground is sinking sand

As I sing, I think about all the ways I live contrary to these words. I act as if my hope is dependent on what I am capable of doing—or not doing. I say my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness, but I shatter when I don’t get my way or when my home is a constant mess or when I can’t keep up with my to-do list or when things I want to control slip through my fingers.

We’ve all been there. Something difficult happens, and we realize we’ve built our hope on sinking sand. We lash out in anger toward someone who disagrees with us, harbor resentment when we’re hurt by a friend, and berate the body God has given us, frustrated that it doesn’t look the way we want it to.

We build our hope on our accomplishments, our comfort, our appearance, our health, and what we think we can control. When we build our hope on anything besides Jesus, we crumble at the first tremor of an earthquake.

When darkness veils his lovely face

I rest on his unchanging grace

In every high and stormy gale

My anchor holds within the veil

We often have to endure hardship to realize this truth. It’s only when we have nothing left on this earth and are left with Christ alone that we realize we have everything we could need in him.

Eternal hope is not built on our abilities but on the hidden wisdom of God, revealed to us in Jesus (see 1 Corinthians 2:7). We join Paul and proclaim the gospel of Christ—in our weakness, in our trembling, and in our fear. We proclaim the gospel as we face our personal shortcomings, because the power to save is found not within us but in God.

The music swells as the congregation sings the last chorus, declaring one more time,

On Christ the solid Rock, I stand

All other ground is sinking sand

All other ground is sinking sand

The foundation for our hope is nothing more and nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. Christ’s atoning sacrifice is sufficient. His provision of grace for us day by day is sufficient. We stand on him who is sovereign over every leaf that falls, every speck of dust that swirls through the air, every moment that unfolds in history. We stand on his perfect life and sacrifice, which covers our sins and sets us free from the shackles of shame we lug around with us. We stand on him who gives us power to persevere as we face persecution.

Our hope is built on Jesus Christ, whose Kingdom stands forever.

Word before World On Christ the solid Rock we stand; all other ground is sinking sand.

Grow in Grace What holds you back from building your life on Jesus’ blood and righteousness? Join Paul in proclaiming your freedom in Christ alone.