Why does the universe look old?

After a good workout I attended the next session of the conference where Dr. Albert Mohler (President of Southern Seminary) addressed the question, "Why does the universe look old?"

Basically Dr. Mohler read Genesis 1:1-2:3 and stated that a straightforward reading and understanding of the text argues convincingly for 6 literal 24 hour days in which God created things and 1 literal 24 hour day of divine rest.

He spent the rest of the time presenting alternative explanations that accommodate extended periods of time for the creation--such views as the "Day-Age" theory which say that the Hebrew word for "day" used in Genesis one doesn't refer to a literal 24 hour day, but an indeterminate length of time (usually millions of years)that overlapped. I thought Mohler did a good job of showing the pressure of our culture to abandon the long accepted view of Genesis (literal 24 hour days in Genesis). There is pressure among both intellectuals and theologians to marginalize as a cult anyone who rejects Darwinian Evolution.

Mohler showed how the Historicity of Adam and Eve is called into serious question by those theories advocating an "old earth" view. The belief is that as evolution took place pre-humans existed (homonoids). It was from among these "homonoids" that God chose Adam and Eve and imparted His image to them. The problem with this view is that it contradicts the Biblical text and must necessarily mean that there were humans that were not created in the image of God (those who lived before God chose Adam and Eve). It also contradicts the explicit statement of Scripture that Adam and Eve were the first humans. The second serious problem with the "old earth" views is that they deny the Historicity of the Fall. If evolution took place over billions of years (Scientists claim the earth is 4.5 billion and the universe is 13.5 billion years old)then there was death before Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden. The Scripture explicitly states that the death is the consequence of sin--see Genesis 3 and Romans 5.

Mohler concluded that the universe looks old 1) because God made it to look old. God created things with the appearance of age. Adam wasn't created as an infant, but fully grown, The garden had fruit bearing trees and 2) because "age" is part of the results of the fall--the whole creation is groaning.

After the conference Marla and I spent some time at the outlet mall with our friends the Lovins. We then went to one of our favorite restaurants "Sweet Tomatoes" and back to our place to sit in the sun by the pool.We are enjoying the very warm weather.

Right now it is pouring down rain. The rain comes on quickly and comes in buckets.