Jesus vs. Dinosaurs

When I was little, around three or four, my mother told me about dinosaurs. Most kids my age would have been so fascinated with such a creature, as many are, but I was far from amused. I refused to believe that such a thing existed! Most kids would have believed everything their parents told them, but I was not like most kids. It sounded like something out of a storybook to me; just think of an enormous beast with sharp fangs and a big, long tail, capable of destroying the current world’s most esteemed buildings in an instant. This just didn’t sound practical to my young self, and my mother said that everyone in the world knew that dinosaurs were real. She pulled up pictures of dinosaur fossils on her computer, and she later bought me a few books on dinosaurs. Of course I know that dinosaurs existed in prehistoric times now that I’m older, but the mere concept of such a creature seemed too far fetched when I first heard about it. However, the more I learned about them, the more convinced I became that this must be common knowledge.

Why don’t people believe that Jesus Christ is their lord and savior? Do they not know enough about God to truly have faith in Him? Do they think of the bible as a storybook that only imbeciles would accept as fact? Is there simply not enough proof for them? I never had a problem believing in God and Jesus. I didn’t really over think religion when I was young, and when I was older I had figured out enough about Christ to trust him in my life. Despite what most may think, I didn’t go to church very often when I was young. My mom and grandma told me enough about God for me to believe, and I would pray occasionally. I first went to the church that I attend now when I was in first grade, but I didn’t go back every weekend. Around fourth grade was when I went back again, and even then I only showed up less than once a month. At the end of seventh grade, I started attending church every weekend. This was completely of my own accord; my dad never went to church and my mom only came occasionally. I started serving in children’s ministry, and I joined a youth group in eighth grade. Most kids my age only go to church because their parents drag them along, but I’m not like most kids.

You’re probably wondering how all of this goes together. All that I’m trying to say is that Jesus really isn’t that different from a dinosaur. Both of them lived a long time ago. If someone said that they saw either one of them, not very many people would believe them. Both of them have many books written about them. Of course, there are a few differences. Dinosaurs didn’t die on a cross to save our sins. Dinosaurs didn’t rise from their graves to prove their existence. There’s more than one dinosaur. Dinosaurs aren’t living within me. One might wonder how it was so easy for me to believe in Jesus, yet so hard for me to believe in dinosaurs. Most people, if they were given the task to end this, would quote John 3:16. I’m not like most people. “The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ came to do three things. He came to have my past forgiven, you get a purpose for living and a home in Heaven.” (Rick Warren) I don’t think any dinosaurs did that.