It Was So Much Better Than I Expected | Creation Museum & Ark Encounter

Last week, I took a break from blogging because my husband and I took a trip to the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter. I had never gone before, though I had heard many things. Everyone who I knew that had gone previously all had a wonderful time and I was told I would have a wonderful time, too.

Before Going

Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect.

Before going, I was more convinced that creation could have been 6,000 years old because of the Answers in Genesis channel on YouTube, and I always believed in a global flood. While I had done some research in both topics, neither topic was one I was particularly drawn to.

What I Didn’t Expect

If I could use one word to describe both how the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter made me feel, the word would be “home.” What I mean is that I truly felt at home in these massive public attractions. I’m a simple country girl and I felt at home in these places. Why?

The central focus is Jesus Christ. Especially at the Creation Museum, if you are not familiar with any Christian Apologetics, the museum will gently guide you through the basics every Christian needs to know. The Ark Encounter does as well, but there’s a whole section of the Creation Museum that will guide you through, what they call, the 7 C’s, which are:

• Creation
• Corruption
• Catastrophe
• Christ
• Cross
• Consummation

Having a place in which you are surrounded by like-minded people is such a rarity for Christians, believe it or not. Christian Apologetics is beyond a stereotypical proclaimed Christian saying he or she believes in God and Jesus, and that’s about it. Both places encourage and provoke discussion. Do we really know what we claim to believe in? If we do not know what we truly believe, then we have a blind faith.

The reality is most of the world has a blind faith.

Give A Defense For Why You Believe

Many proclaimed Christians in America cannot give a defense for why they believe. Many proclaimed Christians today struggle to explain the Gospel. For many of us, we share our own stories, instead of pointing people to scripture to find real faith (Romans 10:17). We need to have a balance, which includes more of God’s word than our own.

Christian Apologetics gives a defense for our faith in Christ, which is exactly what God tells us in His word to do. So, seeing both the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter equip Christians, while challenging skeptics, was extremely encouraging.

Both my husband and I were more familiar with much of what the Creation Museum shared, regarding Christian Apologetics. We were so glad to see that for someone not familiar with:

• The Gospel
• The fall of man
• The connection of animal sacrifices to the atonement of Christ
• And Who is Jesus, as the God-Man

The Creation Museum literally walks a person through these key points. Very early on, the Creation Museum defines Jesus, as the Second Person of the Trinity, He is God. For those who visit and do not believe Jesus is God, the Creation Museum challenges this position well with scripture.

As I was told prior, there is a TON of reading involved. Reading is related both to scripture, historical background, as well as current claims of society. There are many plaques throughout both exhibits.

What I Took Away & Tips If You Visit

What I Took Away, Was Encouraged By, And Was Reminded To Focus On:

• A reminder that the creation proclaims the work of the Creator’s hand.
• We take too much for granted.
• Never underestimate what God can do. He does not need millions of years to do something.
• Being in an environment where the focus is always on God will one day happen, and it will be the most glorious thing to experience.
• Love those who are against God. Love the skeptic, and know how to talk to the skeptic. Be willing to listen and know how to ask good engaging questions. Care about people’s souls.
• KNOW WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN! Read the word of God, pray daily, focus on Christ. How can we truly love and serve others when we do not know our God and Savior?

At the Creation Museum:

• Loved walking through the various gardens. Peaceful. I appreciated the work of the Lord’s creation and how His creation proclaims the Maker.
• Loved learning about various Dragon legends, like the Flood account, there are accounts throughout the world about dragons.
• The planetarium was fun. We saw Created Cosmos (which might be boring for some kids, I heard them complain 😂) and Aliens: Fact or Fiction. I enjoyed the Created Cosmos. Tickets will need to be purchased ahead of time.
• I enjoyed reading how creation in 6 days is very possible.
• Walking through Creation (before the fall) and then walking into Corruption really stood out. One of the first things you see is scratch marks saying the world is no longer safe, and that’s exactly what sin does.
• I appreciate how the snake in the garden was depicted to look like the type of dragon you would see at a Chinese festival or in other Asian legends. Satan is referred to as both the snake and dragon in Revelation.
• I enjoyed the Fearfully and Wonderfully Made exhibit. In times where abortion is glorified, it’s so important to see humans are humans, no matter how small.
• The truth about carbon dating not being able to date millions of years, and how organic material would be gone in millions of years – great counter.
• Favorite Video Talk: Evolution vs. God – Those who believed in evolution could not prove a kind becoming a different kind. A bird is still a bird, even if it has a different beak. Bacteria is still bacteria, this is not evolution, but adaptation.

At the Ark Encounter:

• I enjoyed seeing just how vast the Ark would have been in person.
• I appreciated how the Ark challenged legends of other flood accounts, how the legends were tested and their boats wouldn’t have worked. It was also nice being able to see how the various flood legends/myths took notes from the true Flood account.
• The rainbow gardens were beautiful.
• Very interesting to see how animals would have been caged, fed, kept clean from waste, etc in the Ark. As well as how Noah and his family would have had fresh air and water.
• The workshop, the library, and living quarters were really interesting. Living quarters was my favorite exhibit on the Ark.
• Learning more about the Ice Age and its connection to the flood was very compelling, as well reading the challenges against Global Warming.
• Learning about how millions of years couldn’t produce straight lines in rocks, but a Flood could was encouraging.

Tips When Visiting The Creation Museum And/Or The Ark Encounter:

• Make sure to take breaks sitting down. There is a lot of walking involved. You can rent strollers, wheelchairs, and electric scooters.
• You can buy a refillable tumbler for $20 at both the Ark & Creation Museum, and you can refill it from any area that has fountain drinks (which will have water as an option, too) for basically the whole year. You can use the tumbler at both places. We bought ours at the Creation Museum, and we refilled it both at the Creation Museum and the Ark. Stay hydrated.
• After you get through the line at the Ark Encounter, you will then take a bus that will take you to the Answers in Genesis building and the Ark.
• You do not have to eat there. There are some picnic areas at the Creation Museum. You could bring a cooler and eat outside, or go somewhere else and come back. (I think most tickets allow visitors to come and go multiple times through the day.) There is a buffet place at the Ark, but it is pricey. Almost $20 per adult. We went for my husband’s birthday. They do have quite a selection of foods. Meats, salad bar, some soups, and a few desserts. Both places do have a few restaurants or cafes.
• Stay hydrated in the gardens at the Creation Museum. We went in July, so it was muggy and hot. The tumbler was a blessing.
• A couple of days before your visit, the website will have times and listings of the various shows and talks that will be taking place. Plan ahead. Some will only be during the morning, etc. Talks will not always be repeated each day. We visited from the 5th to the 7th and there were many talks only on the 6th we weren’t able to check out at the Creation Museum because we spent most of the day at the Ark. The website will list various days events will occur, if you click on a topic event/talk.
• Tickets are pricey, make sure to check out their bundles, and plan ahead. I’ve heard some people recommend going to the Creation Museum before going to the Ark Encounter.

Definitely would recommend.

The Gospel Message: With the Good News means there’s bad news. We all are sinners and condemned. We all deserve the just punishment of God’s wrath. Christianity is unlike any other religion because we cannot earn our way into Heaven. God saw the weakness of man and his utter depravity. Yet, He showed us grace. Jesus, God, One Person of the Trinity, became God in the flesh, the God-Man. He was always perfect and sinless. And His humanity was perfected on the cross, living the full sinless life. He became our atonement sacrifice. Dying in our place, taking on the wrath of God upon Himself. He died on the cross, and He was resurrected because death could not hold Him. Jesus is the answer. We, as guilty sinners, need His blood to pay off our debt of sin. For all who put their faith in Him – meaning eyes are opened to the Gospel, we see ourselves as a sinner, we see the need for Christ, we desire our Savior, and we see the ugliness of our sin. Putting our faith in Jesus, we seek HIs forgiveness and repent from our sins, we turn away from our old way of life. We, through the work of the Holy Spirit, continue to become convicted of sin daily. Our eyes will never be the same again. We see things in a different light, and the truth of Christ affects how we live and serve Him. Christ tells us to count the cost. Salvation is a serious topic, it is not to be taken lightly. For a breakdown of this powerful message, understanding how Christ could be God and Man, why God required sacrifices, and more -please see: Why Did A Loving God Kill His Son? (Does God Hate?)

If you think you know the Gospel, check out these questions and see how prepared you are for the day someone might ask you why you believe: The Gospel Challenge (30 Question Quiz) – Are You Ready To Defend Your Faith?

Scripture To Meditate On – (ESV) Romans 3:10, “As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one.”

Community Prayer – June ’22

Christian Topics/Series Covered
Personal Blog: Peeking Beneath
Second Blog: UnAshamed Christian Housewife
Godly Men & Women I Recommend: Link To List
Resources For False Teaching: Recommended Websites For False Teachers/Teaching 
Video Playlist: Christian Questions, Topics, False Teachers, Insights 
Video Playlist: New Christian Believer 
Video Playlist: Understanding False Teachings
Video Playlist: Sermons To Grow From
Social: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook

Advertisement