Once again the misreading of a fossil record has made monkeys out of some of the best and brightest scientists and journalist around the world. Ida, the purported 47 million-year-old fossil described by countless media outlets and scientific intellectuals as the "missing link in human evolution" has been exposed as nothing more than an extinct primate, unrelated to humans (No shock here--read our blog from when the story first broke last May). Malcolm Ritter of the Associated Press writes:

"Remember Ida, the fossil discovery announced last May with its own book and TV documentary? A publicity blitz called it "the link" that would reveal the earliest evolutionary roots of monkeys, apes and humans. Experts protested that Ida wasn't even a close relative. And now a new analysis supports their reaction. In fact, Ida is as far removed from the monkey-ape-human ancestry as a primate could be, says Erik Seiffert of Stony Brook University in New York…Experts agreed."

What does this honest, yet belated, confession mean?

First, it means that those who oppose God, the Bible, and Creationism are as foolish as the Word of God says they are. This will always be the case when individuals suppress the truth of God in their heart and turn to worship the creation more than the Creator (Rom. 1:25).

Second, the latest exposure of the fossil fallacy gives further evidence to the Christian that he can always rely upon the Bible since true science has never contradicted the Word. Whenever there is a conflict between alleged scientific findings and the Bible, the faith of the believer can remain secure in knowing that God, who cannot lie, wrote a Book that has not lied. The original account of creation remains intact. "In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the earth" (Gen. 1:1). While "science" has demonstrated that it constantly changes, the Word of God abides forever.

Third, the honest rereading of the fossil record testifies to the grace and mercy of God who gives individuals time to repent and to tell the truth. Apart from repentance and turning to the truth, the time comes when God confirms individuals in their unrighteousness as the apostle tell us in Romans.

"And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whispers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them" (Rom. 8:28-32).

While the new report concerning the so called evolutionary fossil is more likely rooted in a scientific quest for academic accuracy rather than a spiritual quest to give God glorify for creating man, it is still a good report and for that the Christian community can rejoice.

Perhaps someday all this "monkey business" will end. The day may yet come when men will cease trying to find a link between humans and a lower species. After all, it is only a theory of evolution that is being pursued. Christians can continue to hope that the truth of Divine Creationism will be embraced and established in the hearts of those who were originally made in the image of God.