The age of mother earth
Popular scientific thoughts
Some scientists assess the age of the earth to be about 4.5 billion years. This figure is derived through various radiometric dating means, such as from the ratio of levels of lead isotopes found in rocks of the earth.
Other scientists say there has not been a reliable method of determining the exact age of the earth directly from the rocks of the earths. This is because, to put it simply, the "evidence" has been tampered with.
This means that geologic processes such as tectonic plate movements have recycled the rock formations now available for testing.
Still, creation scientists say the earth is young. Evidence such as the low levels of lunar dust on the surface of the moon point to a less than 10,000 year old planet.
This figure is closer to Biblical chronology, which puts life on earth to about six thousand years, and fits the creation account.
Popular theory or faith - take your pick
The whole matter of evolution or creation and the age of the earth is just one of the things we cannot determine by consensus. We cannot take it to the polls to see which is right.
You have to carefully look at the evidence AND realize that because God is God, He has no obligation to provide any proof of His existence or His creative power. God is God.
Actually, the Creator does not wish us to come to a belief about the origin of life, the age of the earth, the reality of heaven, or any other matter of theological bearing by taking a vote or doing an experiment.
Listen to this:
"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is [God], and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." - Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)
Flipping a coin or measuring popular opinion does not reveal these answers. Getting to know the Creator gives us better results in our religious quests. I am not advocating what evolutionists call 'blind faith'. In fact, we must consider the arguments on both sides of the divide.
A thought experiment
Let us suppose that the following were true: that God created the universe (including the earth) and that He then created life on earth.
Imagine then that you met Adam the day after he was created (this would be Saturday, according to Bible reckoning). If you then asked him how old he was, he'd say, "I'm one day old."
Well, there you would have met a one-day-old hunk of a man!
You cannot assume that Adam was a baby that grew into a man. However, scientists assume the constituents of the rock sample to have a certain amount of lead "in the beginning."
How can you give such credence to the results derived from these assumptions - dressing theory as if it were fact - while neglecting to consider the more reasonable explanation that, "in [the] beginning God...?"
No Eyewitnesses to the fact
Bear in mind that there were no eyewitnesses to the origin of the earth or any living thing, for that matter. What we all know is that it happened.
Everyone has to trust or believe in something - or Someone!
Considering this then, I would find it easier to believe that a tornado roared through a junk yard and assembled a Boeing 747 Jet, than that the universe, or the earth, or life itself has just evolved with all the gravitational, electromagnetic, and other kinds of complexity, order, and precision from pure chance. The latter is too great a 'leap of faith'.
Evolution needs time - creation needs faith
Given the range of values that evolutionists put forward for the age of the earth, it is clear that a geologically older earth would make a better fit with evolutionary ideas of origin.
Accepting the Bible explanation of the origin of the earth (and life on earth) means denouncing the theory of evolution. They are incompatible. Why? Evolution needs time - lots, and lots of time.
Just imagine that you wait for this computer (or this page) to evolve into something else... maybe developing just a single human trait (like sight or hearing) on its own. You would need a very, very long time to wait.
In fact, it is inconceivable! But that is what evolution would have us believe.
To support their arguments for an old earth, some people have cited features such as the Grand Canyon, saying it takes millions of years to form. But according to Dr. John Morris, "It either takes a little water and a long time, or a lot of water and a short time."
If this popular and magnificent feature of the Arizona, USA landscape was formed over millions of years, we would be saying it took little water sustained for a long time. But canyons can form rapidly. So the existence of the Grand Canyon is no proof that earth is millions of years old. Read John Morris' article, "HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR A CANYON TO FORM?"
So according to scientific and biblical references, mother earth is relatively very young (a few thousand years old). Evolutionists interpret other scientific data as indicating millions of years old. I know the Bible is true, but the premises of science are never always true.
In one sense, this earth is really old. That is why God promises to make a new one.
"For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind." - Isaiah 65:17
All heaven hopes that you and I will be part of the new earth - that is what really matters.