If Dinosaurs Existed...

Articles

Derek Long
01/27/18 - Evolution

January 28, 2018

If Dinosaurs Existed …

By Derek Long

Evolutionists have argued for many years dinosaurs existed a long time before mankind was ever on the earth. Other individuals may counter by saying dinosaurs never really existed. While there seems to be a great deal of evidence for the existence of dinosaurs from the fossil record, we will not attempt to prove their existence in this article. If dinosaurs did exist, what are some things we know that are true about them?

If dinosaurs existed, we know they were created by God. Genesis 1:20-25 tells us how God created all the living creatures in the waters, birds of the air, and all land animals. No matter whether the particular dinosaur under discussion flew, walked on land, or swam in the water it was created by God.

If dinosaurs existed, we know they lived on the earth with man for a period of time. Genesis 1:26-28 shows how man was created by God on the sixth day. The day before man’s creation God made all the sea creatures and birds of the air (Genesis 1:20-23). All the land animals were created the same day as man was created (Genesis 1:24-25). I have heard people say what if Genesis 1 is recording for us a second creation and dinosaurs had already lived on the earth and became extinct. In response to this argument, I would say “in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day” (Exodus 20:11). Whatever God created it all was created within the first week as Genesis 1 records for us. In addition, the Bible pictures man as being present on the earth from the beginning of the creation. When Jesus speaks about the foundation of marriage being rooted in God creating man and woman, He says “but from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female’” (Mark 10:6). How could man and woman be in existence from the beginning of the creation if a whole set of animals had been created earlier and became extinct already? Also, in Romans 1:20 we read, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” If mankind was created several years after the creation of the world, no one would have been present since the creation of the world to observe God’s invisible attributes seen in the creation.

If dinosaurs existed, then we know they were not initially afraid of man. I have heard people reason dinosaurs and man could not exist on the earth at the same time because of how ferocious dinosaurs are. In response, we might point out how man and animals initially ate the herb of the field (Genesis 1:29-30) and animals did not become afraid of man until after the flood (Genesis 9:2-3). Therefore, it would seem dinosaurs would not be a threat to man if they were only eating the herbs of the field. There are still very ferocious animals in existence today and yet mankind is still able to live on the earth with them. God gave mankind dominion over the creation (Genesis 1:26, 28) and mankind has been able to control very powerful animals throughout time (James 3:7).

If dinosaurs existed, we know they did not perish in the flood. One explanation I have heard given by some people for how the dinosaurs became extinct is they perished in the flood. If dinosaurs were in existence when God sent the flood, there were at least a male and female saved in the ark. Two of every kind of creature alive went with Noah into the ark to be saved from the flood (Genesis 7:8-9). Various explanations have been given for how dinosaurs may have become extinct but we know it was not by them perishing in the flood.

If dinosaurs existed, we know God is more powerful than the dinosaurs. When a person looks at a skeleton of a dinosaur put together and sees its size we are often amazed. If dinosaurs had the type of power and strength they are portrayed as having, then they were powerful creatures. Yet the God who created the dinosaurs is much more powerful. In the latter part of the book of Job, God depicts two great creatures (Job 40:15-41:34) of great strength. Many have suggested these creatures may have been dinosaurs. If these creatures were dinosaurs or some other creature, the point remains the same. When we see a powerful creature made by God, it should remind us with how powerful God is and how humble we need to be before Him.

We need to make sure we do not allow people to make arguments with dinosaurs which undermine our faith in the Bible. No matter how many people may object to what God’s word says we need to “let God be true but every man a liar” (Romans 3:4).