Since ancient times, fossils have aroused mystery and wonder. Where did they come from? What are they? Recent discoveries only add to the mystery . . . until the Bible is included in the picture.

Mysteries, mysteries, everywhere! Some are young, and others old. Some are big, and others small.

No matter what the mystery, however, the place to begin looking for answers is always God’s Word (Proverbs 1:7). It is the one sure source of truth that sheds light on the history of life on earth.

On the following pages are five random examples of fossil mysteries that beg for an explanation, if we want to better understand the past. Every day, new discoveries raise additional perplexing questions that inquisitive folks want to answer.

We can never answer all the questions. But with practice at “fossil sleuthing” from a biblical perspective, at least we can get better and better at evaluating each new discovery in a God-honoring way that might yield new insights into God’s person and work.

So consider this a test.

One: Life’s Unexpected Explosion
Forty major animal groups appear out of nowhere at the bottom of the fossil record. Where did this “Cambrian Explosion” come from?
 

Two: Those Not-So-Dry Bones
If dinosaurs died millions of years ago, how can their fossils still contain soft tissue?
 

Three: Without a Leg to Stand On
Birds are vastly different from dinosaurs, even in the way they walk. How could one come from the other?
 

Four: Amazingly Preserved Leaves
When leaves die, they shrivel up and crumble. So why is the fossil record full of well-preserved, flat leaves?
 

Five: Tracks But No Trilobites
Why do we find lots of trilobite tracks in lower rock layers, but we don’t find any trilobite fossils until higher up?
 

How skilled are you at properly handling the Word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15)? Would you know how to answer these questions? Would you even know the right questions to ask? Click on the above highlighted links for answers.