Brothers and Sisters, greetings. Today I am going to present evidence for why I think we should trust the Bible and it's creation account as literal, meaning that the Earth is just several thousand years old, just over 6,000 to be more precise. Firstly let me just say that I do not think this issue is a matter of salvation, and therefore not essential, but I fear not trusting the Bible in this regard only helps the adversary further weaken our resolve and understanding when it comes to other issues.
Ok, so science (or the world) describes the Earth as being billions of years old. Lets see what the Bible says.
Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Gen 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Gen 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Gen 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
Gen 1:5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
Now, scripture does tell us that a thousand years is like a day to God.
Psa 90:4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
When you consider the word "day"
H3117 from the Genesis passage, it could be either literal or figurative, however looking at the words "evening"
H6153 and "morning"
H1242 there is much less room for interpretation and scripture seems to be pointing to an actual 24 hour day. The issue with people accepting this though, is because I would say for must of us, for our entire lives, we've been taught that the Bible is wrong, and science is right. However the creation story provides a completely contrary explanation for how we got here. Take for example that God created Earth on the first day, but made the stars on the fourth, not to mention making plants on the third!
Gen 1:14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
Gen 1:15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
Gen 1:16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
According to science, how could God of made the earth, filled with plants, before he made the sun, moon, and stars? We must remember that God is all powerful and is not constrained by the laws of creation, as He is the one who made them. We are also told the Earth was made out of water; are we just to disregard that because science says otherwise?
2Pe 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
2Pe 3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
2Pe 3:6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
2Pe 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
2Pe 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
Again we see that a thousand years to God is like one day, we will come back to this in a bit. Before we do, lets address wisdom, or being wise. Are we, who are sinful and wicked, wise? Or is wisdom given to us through God. Basically are we "wise" in the ways and beliefs of the world, or are we "wise" in the ways of God? To paraphrase Jesus, we are in the world, but not of the world (John 17:14-16).
Psa 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
Pro 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Jer 8:9 The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them?
Dan 2:21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
All of these scriptures point to the fact that God gives us wisdom. Therefor if someone is wise, that is because they are wise in the ways of the Lord. See for instance the Jeremiah reference; they had rejected the Word of the Lord, and they had no wisdom!
1Cor 1:20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
1Cor 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
1Cor 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
Scripture clearly seems to clearly be rebuking what the "world" considers wise, because it is opposed to the truth of God. We should not be surprised by this because scripture also tells us that Satan is the ruler of this world.
2Cor 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Joh 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
So if Satan is running this earth (for a time), should we be surprised if the whole earth is teaching something that is contrary to God and his Word? Something that only causes people to fall away or not believe? We as followers of Christ, should forget what we think we know, and look to God's word for understanding. Do you prefer words from scientists and doctors over the words of God? If you read a difficult passage that doesn't fit your understanding do you disregard it because the world says otherwise?
I know some of you are still wondering, what about dinosaurs and fossils man!? We know, because of scripture, that there were giants before and after the flood.
Gen 6:4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
Deu 3:13 And the rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, being the kingdom of Og, gave I unto the half tribe of Manasseh; all the region of Argob, with all Bashan, which was called the land of giants.
Not only were there giant men walking the earth after the flood, there were also giant plants and fruit.
Num 13:23 And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs.
Would it then be safe to assume if there were giant people and plants, there were giant animals as well? I think this more than satisfies how we could have "dinosaur" bones. What about the ageing though, the fossil record? Again, do you trust man or God? A great resource for fossilization, and a man much more versed on the subject than myself, I feel provides a very concise explanation and I will link a short video here.
So, the last reason I think the earth is only over 6,000 years is because the signs of the times. I think we are in the last days. Just as God made the Earth in a literal week, he will bring about its completion in a figurative week. Meaning, its been almost 2,000 years since the death and resurection of Jesus Christ. We are now in the figurative third day. We have already read how 1,000 years is like a single day to God. When did Jesus rise from the dead? On the third day. When will he return? On the third (figurative) day! Look around you and see the ever growing evil engulfing the earth! God's longsuffering is drawing to an end and Christ will be returning soon!
I will ask you one final time. Do you believe the Word of God, or the wisdom of man?
