Dr. Henry M. Morris:
Finishing Well
By Clint Bishard
Jesus Created Ministries
On February 25th,
at the age of 87, Dr. Henry Morris went to be with the Lord. He leaves behind
a legacy worth taking a moment to remember.
I believe Dr. Henry
Morris is rightly referred to as the father of the modern creation movement.
His book, The Genesis Flood, co-authored by John Whitcomb and published
in 1961, is seen by most as the starting point of providing a much needed
response to the evolutionary thinking dominating our culture. His works
include more than sixty books, most dealing with the subject of Biblical and
scientific evidences for the Biblical view of creation. He was the founder of
the Institute of Creation Research, one of the leading (if not the leading)
organizations actively undertaking research in line with the Biblical view of
origins. He was a man who properly understood that evolution’s lies were the
greatest satanic attack on the authority of the Word of God, and he put his
energies towards exposing this lie.
He leaves behind
children who are actively serving in Christian ministry. His son and current
president of the Institute for Creation Research, Dr. John Morris, testifies of
his father that he was the best Christian that he knew.
I met Dr. Henry
Morris only once, but this short meeting made a lasting impression on me. It
was during my schooling at ICR, the summer of 2004. I found his office and
knocked on the door without any answer. Disappointed he was not there, I was
just about to leave when I heard a couple approaching. I turned and watched as
he slowly made his way up the stairs with his wife. We exchanged greetings and
shared a few words about ICR, but the memory that stuck in my mind was watching
someone of his age struggle up the stairs, knowing he was still actively
serving the Lord. I remember hearing a sermon stating that it is not how well
you start in your Christian walk, as much as, how well you finish. Well, I
hope and pray that I will finish as well as Dr. Henry Morris finished. Also,
speaking of finishing, I would like to finish with the following quote from Dr.
Morris himself.
“Don’t interpret the Bible by
what science said, but rather interpret the scientific data in terms of the
Biblical revelation; and that means in terms of recent creation, and the world
wide flood, and the absolute authority of the Scripture, from beginning to
end. So, don’t compromise on the Scriptures! I think that is the main message
I would like to get to Christians and churches. Don’t be tempted, no matter
what the scientists or other people say. You believe the Bible, and believe
what it says. God is able to say what He means.”
