"O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.” (Psalm 43:3)
When my children were little, they would burst through my bedroom door on Christmas morning and jump in my bed, giggling and begging to open presents. I usually pulled the covers over my head, grumbling that it was still dark outside. I would mumble some motherly instructions telling them to go see what was in their stockings and watch the twinkling lights on the tree for a little longer—and quietly, please. But that ploy only worked when they were very young.
As the years passed, I got smarter. I told the kids on Christmas Eve not to wake me up in the morning until light came through their windows. That decree became necessary after my special needs daughter decided to bombard my bed at 3:00 a.m.
I smile when I think about how many Christmas mornings following that Christmas Eve mandate that my children have fidgeted in their beds, anticipating glittering gifts and sparkling bags with their names on them, waiting for the first light to shine through their windows. And I wonder how our Father feels about us when we eagerly wait on Him—whether we anticipate help, hope, peace, deliverance, healing, provision, friendship, direction, or His abundant good gifts that we can’t even imagine. Perhaps He also smiles when He sees us eager to discover His wonders.
Throughout Scripture, we are instructed to wait on the Lord. Psalm 37:7 tells us to “rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him” and promises a wondrous gift for those who wait—“Those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth” (Psalm 37:9). Of course, the best gift of all is our gracious Lord and the sweet relationship that He offers us.
In this issue of Acts & Facts, three generations of Morris men encourage us to focus on the greatest gift of all this Christmas. In “God Gave Himself,” Dr. Henry Morris, founder of the Institute for Creation Research, says the “theme of giving is very prominent in the Bible” and that Jesus Christ is “the greatest of all gifts.” Henry Morris IV echoes those thoughts in “The Treasure of the Heart,” encouraging us to focus on the true meaning of Christmas and to turn our attention to God’s perfect Gift. And Dr. Henry Morris III reminds us in “The Lamb and the Lion” that we should worship the One who was found to be “worthy to open the scroll.”
Blessings to you and your family as you wait for the light this Christmas, eagerly anticipating the wonders of our Lord, enjoying the sweet fellowship He offers, and worshipping the One who is worthy of our devotion. Merry Christmas!
* Jayme Durant is Executive Editor at the Institute for Creation Research.
Cite this article: Durant, J. 2012. Wait for the Light. Acts & Facts. 41 (12): 3.