How does the Bible explain dinosaurs and all the other prehistoric fossils we have?  Isn't evolution the only answer?

 

Sincerely,
Stymied-o-saurus

Dear Stymied-o-saurus,

The Bible says that every creature that lives on this planet was created on day five (Gen 1:20-23) or day six (Gen 1:24-25).  This would include the dinosaurs.  Dinosaurs would have existed in the Garden of Eden, just like all other animals did.  Dinosaurs would have also been brought on Noah’s Ark, just like all other animals (Gen 6:19).  In fact, Job chapters 40 and 41 describe in detail two animals that sound exactly like dinosaurs.  That is the biblical explanation for when and where dinosaurs lived.

As for fossils, fossils are created when something is killed and buried very, very quickly.  Fossils are the product of cataclysmic destruction.  The most likely explanation for the vast amount of fossils found today is the Great Flood of Noah’s day.  The entire world was quickly covered by water (Gen 7:19-20).  The pressure, removal of oxygen, and speed of destruction caused by the Great Flood would be a perfect situation to create fossils.  There is nothing contradictory about the fossil record.  The Bible functions in perfect harmony with science.

For questions like this, we often refer people to AnswersInGenesis.org, a site that is dedicated to the research of creation scientists.  They have many articles that address these types of question in more detail.

Sometimes I feel like asking for forgiveness is too easy.  When I think about all the sins I commit in a week, I feel awful and can't comprehend that if I just ask for them to be forgiven, they will be, and then I'm stuck with this feeling that I'm not really forgiven.  I do truly feel sorry for what I've done, but is it supposed to be this easy?

 

Sincerely,
Apology Accepted?

Dear Apology Accepted?,

Trusting in the Lord is hardest when He offers something more spectacular than we deserve.  Heaven is hard to visualize because it is so wonderful, and forgiveness is hard to appreciate because it is so gracious.  You must remember that God provides forgiveness as a gift (Rom 6:23); it has nothing to do with whether you deserve it.  God tells us that He is eager to forgive us (Ps 86:5).  Forgiveness is His gift to give, and He may give it as freely as He wishes.

God’s forgiveness can be compared to the forgiveness a parent offers their children (after all He is called our Father for a reason – Matt 5:45).  How often do young children make mistakes as they learn and grow?  No matter how often a child fails, parents are quick to forgive them as soon as they show sorrow.  God is no different (1 Jn 1:9).  Your Father loves you so much that He gave His very own Son (Jhn 3:16).  Sometimes God’s forgiveness seems too easy because God loves us with such ease.

5 minutes a day 5 days a week All the New Testament in a year

About two years ago, life started to get bad.  I was told to read Job.  I was devoted to God, thought He was real, but this, to me, is cruel.  I never thought the God of the Bible could hurt one of His own.  If what I am going through is a Job thing… why?  Why do we humans have to go through such bad things?

 

Sincerely,
Horribly Hurting

Dear Horribly Hurting,

The book of Job does answer your question, but you have to understand the point of the book to get the lesson.  God never hurt Job; the devil did (Job 2:7).  Job suffered because the devil accused God of protecting Job too much.  He accused Job of serving God, not out of love, but out of a desire for blessings (Job 1:9-11).  The devil was wrong, though; Job didn’t renounce God even when he was suffering (Job 1:22).  Job’s life testifies that serving God is about more than just being blessed; it is about love.

When christians remain faithful to God throughout immense trials, they prove to the world that Christianity is not a club or a Sunday activity – being a christian is a way of life.  When people take up their crosses and follow Christ, the world sees that we are serious (Matt 16:24).  When we suffer for doing right, we have nothing to be ashamed of; we are glorifying God (1 Pet 4:15).  It is through many trials that we enter God’s kingdom (Acts 14:22).  We here at AYP don’t know exactly what it is that you are suffering through, but if you suffer as a christian, know that you are not suffering in vain (1 Pet 3:17-18).  In this life, you may get bad things – but no matter what, in the next life, you shall be comforted (Lk 16:25).

5 minutes a day 5 days a week All the New Testament in a year