[continued from previous message]

Finally, we come back to the root cause of the whole controversy. Will accepting an older Earth
be like “giving in” to arguments supporting Darwinism? No, that doesn’t logically follow either.
Although Darwin and his supporters sought evidence for an older Earth to support the theory of
evolution, the finding of such evidence does not necessarily lend
credence to his theory. Time
does not necessarily make some things probable. In fact, many experts researching the
probability of random ordering of biological molecules have concluded
that this is extremely
remote, even in 14 billion years of time [46]. As a physicist, I see
some very convincing
evidence for the antiquity of the Earth, but a plausible theory of
naturalistic explanations for the
origin of life has yet to emerge. We see a vastly complex order in the
genetic code of even the
very simplest life forms. We are just beginning to understand this
complexity while we piece
together the human genome. I find this fascinating, and I welcome what
we will find. New
scientific understanding of origins, whether it be origins of the
universe, our galaxy, our solar
system, the Earth, or life on Earth, do not pose a threat to the
reliability of the Bible. Judging
from previous experience, it promises to provide even more convincing
evidence of God’s
remarkable design, built into the universe at every level.
We see that the Christian faith is not imperiled by an acceptance of an
old age for the Earth. The
truth of God’s Word may be accepted on the basis of a very reasonable
faith, one that has a
healthy respect for science as well. Recently discovered scientific
evidence is in fact, supporting
the clear messages of the Bible. Although science tends to change with
new observations, a
clearer understanding of our physical universe is developing. We are
growing increasingly more
confident in the evidence that points to what has taken place in the
past. A clearer picture is
emerging. And the clearer it becomes, the more it appears to agree with
the Biblical account of
creation. Evidence for meticulous design built into the very fabric of
our universe, including the
ordered laws and fine-tuned balance of properties necessary for our
existence, is convincing
people of God’s handiwork. Psalm 19:1, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and their
expanse is declaring the work of His hands”, is being fulfilled.
I haven’t given you all the answers to questions you may have. I
certainly don’t have them all.
But I have given you some things to think about and prayerfully
consider. Rather than reject the
testimony given by the scientific evidence, why not embrace it and allow
it to strengthen your
faith in the truth of God’s Word? If you are a Christian, and this has
not agreed with your
understanding of God’s Word, please consider the points made in this
chapter. It is a liberating
feeling to find that science is providing a testimony consistent with
God’s Word. The account of
creation in Genesis has some very clear and profound messages that our
world needs to hear.
But have we learned to appreciate these and integrate them into a
worldview that welcomes
knowledge from various disciples of study, including science? Until we
are willing to examine
both, we won’t be able to see the beautifully consistent fit that is
becoming clearer.
27
And if you are one who appreciates science, but have been hesitant to
accept the Bible, consider
what may be holding you back. Is it really still a question of the
Bible’s validity, or is it what
such an acceptance would mean for you personally? Yes, the Bible reveals
that you must make a
major commitment, one involving your entire being. That’s the only way
God intended to have
fellowship with us, with our entire lives opened up to him. Jesus paid
the penalty for our sins,
but we must receive Him as Lord and Savior, by inviting Him into our
lives (Romans 10:9).
Since you’ve read this far, I trust you recognize that the scientific evidence is pointing to the
truth of the Bible. It’s time to make a personal commitment, since God didn’t provide all of this
testimony for an uninvolved observer. Seeing the testimony requires a
personal response, just as
the writer of Psalm 19 concluded. I hope and pray that you choose to
open your heart to Christ.
The beauty of seeing science and the Bible provide consistent messages
does not compare to the
beauty of knowing Christ.

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