Morning Devotional

July 17, 2003

“It Doesn’t Add Up”  

by Don Emmitte

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So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended, and the Gentiles say it's all nonsense. But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the mighty power of God and the wonderful wisdom of God. This "foolish" plan of God is far wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God's weakness is far stronger than the greatest of human strength. (1 Corinthians 1:23-25 NLV).

Oklahoma State University's 1996 season quarterback, President Lyndon Johnson's nephew Randy Johnson, proved to be a mediocre quarterback for a mediocre team. But mediocre or not, Oklahoma State could be lifted to legendary greatness if they beat their archrival, the University of Oklahoma, in the season-ending game.

In that final game of 1996, Oklahoma State was behind by six points. Little hope remained that they would score with almost 80 yards between them and their goal line, only minute’s left on the clock, and a steady downpour of rain. But their mud-covered suits didn't look half as pitiful as the battered, despairing faces of the State players. As a gesture of goodwill, the Oklahoma State coach put in all the seniors for the last play of the game and told Randy to call whatever play he wanted. The team huddled, and to the surprise of his teammates, Randy called play 13, a trick play they'd never used, for the good reason that it had never worked in practice. Well, the impossible happened! Play 13 worked! Oklahoma State scored! Randy Johnson's team won the game by one point! The fans went wild! As they carried Randy, the hero of the game, off the field, his coach called out to him, "Why in the world did you ever call play 13?" "Well, we were in the huddle," Randy answered, "and I looked over and saw old Harry with tears running down his cheeks. It was his last college game and we were losing. And I saw that big 8 on his chest. Then I looked over and saw Ralph. And tears were running down his cheeks, too. And I saw that big 7 on his jersey. So in honor of those two heartbroken seniors, I added eight and seven together and called play 13!" "But Randy," the coach shouted back. "Eight and seven don't add up to 13!" Randy reflected for a moment and answered back with a smirk, "You're right, coach! And if I'd been as smart as you are, we would have lost the game!"

Sometimes the correct answers are not always the right answers. Certainly when it comes to matters of faith, reason more often than not has to take a backseat. Not that you have to turn your brain off. It's just that the Christian faith rarely makes sense to people unfamiliar with the often upside-down world of Christianity. It was on the cross, of all places, that Jesus actually won the game, so to speak. The Bible says that kind of salvation is foolishness to those who don't believe. Wise people know that even though the gospel doesn't add up, the truth of it sets us free.