Defender of the Faith—A Tribute to the Testimony of Henry M. Morris

There are many unsung heroes of the Christian faith—dear departed saints who have toiled in humble obscurity for the Lord on earth but will receive their reward in heaven. Dr. Henry M. Morris, credited as "the father of modern scientific creationism" and founder of the Institute for Creation Research, was certainly not unknown during his lifetime of service; however, there are few similar godly role models today whose teaching and example, like that of Dr. Morris, have helped thousands upon thousands to rely upon God's Word as divinely authoritative, scientifically accurate, historically proven, and spiritually sufficient. Dr. Morris never sought to "draw away disciples" after himself but instead poured out his life in service and devotion to our Lord. The devotional below was printed in the flyer from Henry Morris's memorial and was noted as being pasted in the flyleaf of his personal Bible. We reproduce it here as a humbling reminder of our place in the Lord's service—to Him, to the Body of Christ, and to the world.

Others May—You Cannot

If God has called you to be really like Jesus, He will draw you into a life of crucifixion and humility, and put upon you such demands of obedience, that you will not be able to measure yourself by other Christians; and in many ways, He will seem to let to let other good people do things which He will never let you do.

Other Christians and ministers, who seem very religious and useful, can push themselves, pull wires and work schemes to carry out their Christian goals, but these things you simply cannot do. Others may boast of their work or their writings or their success, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing, and if you ever try it, He will lead you into some deep mortification that will make you despise yourself and all your good works.

Others may be allowed to succeed in making money, but most likely God will keep you poor, because He want you to have something far better than gold, namely, a helpless dependence on Him and the joy of seeing Him supply your needs day by day out of an unseen Treasury.

The Lord may let others be honored and keep you hidden and unappreciated because He wants to produce some choice, fragrant fruit for His coming glory, which can only be produced in the shade. He may let others do a work for Him and get the credit for it, but He will make you work on and on without others knowing how much you are doing; and then, to make your work still more precious, He may let others get the credit for the work which you have done, and thus make your reward ten times greater when Jesus comes.

The Holy Spirit will rebuke you for little words or deeds or even feelings, or for wasting your time, which other Christians never seem to be concerned about, but you must make up your mind that God is an infinite Sovereign and He has a right to do whatever He pleases with His own. He may not explain to you a thousand things which puzzle your reason in the way He deals with you, but if you will just submit yourself to Him in all things, He will wrap you up in a jealous love and bestow upon you many blessing which come only to those who are very near to His heart.

Settle it then, that He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue, or chaining your hand, or closing your eyes, in ways that He does not seem to use with others. Now, when you are so possessed with the living God that your secret heart becomes pleased and delighted with this peculiar, personal, private, jealous guardianship and management of the Holy Spirit over your life, then you will have entered the very vestibule of heaven itself.

—G.D. Watson (1845-1924)