Sights of Sedona, AZ
Last month I preached a gospel meeting in Arizona. Before flying home, my wife, youngest daughter and I took a day-trip to see the beautiful sandstone mountains of Sedona (about two hours south of the Grand Canyon). Because it was a quick visit, we took a 2-hour Jeep tour to take in the sights. Our tour guide immediately asked why we had been in Arizona. I explained that I had been preaching for the past several days. He had a kind demeanor and was very open about his religious upbringing. He remarked to us how he now “believed in a god” but not of any particular faith (agnosticism).
We conversed briefly about religion before he began to make brief stops to explain the various sights and stories of Sedona. As we traveled up the rocky road to gain a better vantage point of the mountains he made an interesting comment. He said, “We do know these mountains were covered by oceans at one point in time because there are oceanic fossils on the tops of the mountains.”
I could not help but steer the conversation back to the God of the Bible. So, I asked, “You mean, perhaps like the global flood the Bible talks about in the days of Noah?” I doubt he ever heard that response. He stuttered and said, “Well, maybe.”
John C. Whitcomb, co-author of The Genesis Flood, writes in his book The World That Perished, “...sedimentary rocks such as those in the Grand Canyon provide ample visible evidence of Deluge deposition... The strata include limestones, shales, and sandstones...the most reasonable way of accounting for them is in terms of relatively rapid deposition out of the sediment-laden water of the Flood” (p. 72). He continues, “Not only do sedimentary deposits demand the dynamics of a gigantic flood for adequate explanation, but so also do the fossils of billions of plants and animals that are found within them” (p. 76).
As Whitcomb points out in his books, it is mind-boggling how some want to “scientifically” explain oceanic fossils on the tops of mountains while ignoring the evidence God has already provided! Scientists might just learn something by reading the Bible. Using God’s history book as a template can enhance our scientific findings. Think about it. I pray our tour guide will think about it every time he leads tourists through the sights of Sedona.
April 2009