“The discovery of the 95%-complete 'lemur monkey' - dubbed Ida - is described by experts as the ‘eighth wonder of the world’. They say its impact on the world of palaeontology will be ‘somewhat like an asteroid falling down to Earth’. Researchers say proof of this transitional species finally confirms Charles Darwin's theory of evolution" (by Alex Watts, Sky News Online, UK).
The BBC’s famed Naturalist, Sir David Attenborough was quoted as saying, "Darwin ‘would have been thrilled’ to have seen the fossil - and says ‘it tells us who we are and where we came from.'"
But as we read deeper into the article, the announcement that started with “asteroid falling” significance lost some of its glow.
Researchers admitted the discovery was made by amateur fossil-hunter who dug “Ida” out of a crater in Germany over twenty-five years ago. The lemur’s remains have been hanging “on a German collector’s wall for 20 years.” Scientist obtained her “from the murky world of fossil-trading” paying “ten times the amount even the rarest of fossils fetch on the black market”. It took a cool million to persuade a “dealer” to part with Ida, and for the past two years, researchers have been “secretly” studying her.
Hmm, this story is beginning to sound kind of—murky. Are they seriously asking us to believe this is the answer 'who we are and where we came from'?
Yet, at the end of the article a reader posted this response, “Science uses hypothesis and research to find the truth, while religion uses faith and a supernatural force to explain things.”
“Research or faith?” I sighed to my hubby, “That argument, again? What about logic and common sense? Besides, who really has all the faith here?” I looked out the window at our car. I wonder if these same researchers took apart our car and examined it—they’d find any evidence of design? Would it take a leap of faith— or a simple exercise of logic to recognize the design had a designer? Then I looked at my hand… Why don’t they see a Designer in this?
Later in the day, I opened my Bible and read the words of the psalmist David, written over three-thousand-years-ago:
The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
Day to day pours forth speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge.
–Psalm 19:1-2
That reminded me of another passage of scripture written by the Apostle Paul nearly two-thousand-years-ago about those “suppress the truth” of the Creator’s existence:
“That which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so they are without excuse.” “ Professing to be wise, they … exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.”
–Romans 1:19-20, 22a, 23
“Dear Lord,” I prayed, “You put the evidence of Your design all around us! Why can’t they see it?”
Then Jesus’ words went through my mind … He who has ears, let him hear. And I was reminded of what He said to those who refuse the message, “while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand” (Matthew 13:9, 13b).
If they’re comfortable ignoring evidence of a Designer—and putting their faith Darwin’s fragile theory, secret studies, and in murky fossil deals instead—perhaps the problem isn’t lack of faith.
Perhaps it’s having too much.
