06.11. When, How and Why of Creation
When, How and Why of Creation
We know from last week that evolution and creation are not compatible. We have looked at the who of Creation, Almighty God. We know everything was created by a loving God. We next ask the questions of when did He do the act of creating, how did He do it and why.
I- When of Creation:
Has the universe been here billions of years as science claims or is there evidence that it has not existed but thousands of years? To explore when God created the material universe we begin our discussion with a couple of thoughts. Several Bible scholars believe that there is evidence of a recent creation date. I for one hold to this thought or idea. Still others teach what is commonly known as the "gap theory". It is also know as the "ruin and reconstruction theory" as well as the "pre-Adamic cataclysm theory." This idea was revived in the 1800’s by a man named Thomas Chalmers and made popular by the Scofield Reference Bible. We will explore the gap theory first.
A- Gap Theory?
The gap theory basically says that between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2 there was a pre-adamic race that was destroyed and God reconstructed the creation in the six days. Some who hold to this idea admit they don’t know much about this supposed creation. Authur Pink speaking of Genesis 1:1 says: "’In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,’ and that is all that is here recorded concerning the original creation. Nothing is said which enables us to fix the date of their creation; ...revealed concerning their appearance or inhabitants." (Pink, Authur, Gleanings in Genesis, Moody Press, Chicago. P.9) The date of this theory coming into prominence is interesting. Although this teaching dates back to earl Christian writings in 1876 Dr. Thomas Chalmers, a Scottish scholar, and George H. Pember supported it and gave it credence. It is ironic because by 1880 Darwin’s theory was universally accepted. Darwin has supposable proven evolution over time. This if it were true would cast doubt upon the Bible and God and left Christian theologian with untold millions of years unaccounted for. The gap theory allowed them to tuck these years between the first two verses. C.I. Scofield picked up this in his notes. The gap theory’s purpose is to reconcile the truth of God’s Word with the lie of Satan. Dr. Henry Morris a well known scholar on this says "The main purpose of the gap theory has been to try to harmonize the Biblical chronology with the accepted system of geological ages." (Morris, Henry M. The Genesis Record, Baker Books, Grand Rapids Michigan. 1976, p.36 ) This in not possible nor necessary. Dr. Morris explains that the evolution theory has no place for a worldwide destruction that the gap theory supposes and is not compatible with science. He also states, "The gap theory is not only impossible scientifically but also destructive theologically. By accepting the geological age system, the Bible scholars is thereby accepting the fossil record which identifies these ’ages’." (Ibid. p.370) To accept the gap theory and feel it necessary to explain the age of the earth is to accept that evolution in part has been proved because the geological age system and evolution are synonymous. The attitude of acceptance has allowed evolution teaching to takeover our school, news media, and belief system.
B- Scripture Disproves Gap:
Romans 5:12 "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin: and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." shows that it was by Adam that sin and death came to man. Romans 8:20-22 says, "For the creature (creation) was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope. (Adam) Because the creature itself also shall be delivered....the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now." These verses show not only man was affected by Adam’s sin but all of creation. The gap theory says that Adam in fact was not the reason for the fall of creation but that he walked on a giant graveyard of bones from the former creation that God destroyed because of sin. My friends if these verses in Romans 5 and 8 are true than the Gap theory has got to be a lie.
C- Recent Creation Possible:
So we are still without an answer to when did God create this universe, as we know it. Is there any evidence that suggest that creation may in fact be only a few thousand years old? Could creation be as young as 8,000, 10,000 or 15,000 years old? Allow me to offer the following for our consideration.
1- The Population Statistics:
If man came on the scene of the earth the population would be much larger than it is now. Harold Wilmington says, "If man appeared over one million years ago, the present world population would be thousands of times greater that it actually is. In fact, our entire galaxy could not provide the needed space or so many." (Willmington, Harold L. Willmington’s Guide to the Bible, Vol. 1 Old Testament. Tyndale Houses, Wheaton Ill. 1986. p.15.) Dr. Willmington assumed a life span of 70 years and that a generation was 35 years then the present world population would have resulted in about 30 doubling. This would take us back to about 3500 B.C. a date suggested by many scholars for the flood when the population of man as we know it began again with Noah. Dr. Wilmington quotes Dr. Henry Morris concerning this. Allow me to give you this quote. "Now, if the first man appeared one million years ago, and these very conservative growth rates applied during this period, the world population would be at present 10 (27000 zeros following) people. However, no more than 10 (with 100 zeros) people could be crammed into the known universal" (Morris, Henry Science and Creation, P.154 as quoted in Willmington’s Guide to the Bible, p. 15.) 2- The Absence of Meteorite Dust:
I recall a conversation of Larry Burkett who was a scientist who worked on the lunar lander project for the moon. Larry said that they planned for the lunar lander to encounter very dusty conditions on the lunar surface and in fact place very large landing pods on the lunar module to keep it from sinking into the dust. When they arrived they found the dust to be only 2-6 inches thick. The moon does not have any atmosphere nor weather to alter the dust that falls upon it. The dust simply lays there. My question is if creation is millions of years old where is the dust. It should be as NASA assumed several feet thick. Every year 15,000,000 (15 billion) tons of nickel meteorite dust falls on the earth from space. If earth were only 5,000,000 years old the layer would be 200 feet thick. The weather on earth and new vegetation absorbs it into our ecological system but not the moons. This suggests that in fact creation is very young.
3- The Gravitation Pull:
The smaller an object is the sooner it is pulled into an object by gravity. We have satellites that crash enter earth’s atmosphere all the time that fall out of orbit. If creation was as old as some scientist says it is why do we still have the bands of meteorites and small particles in the solar system. They should not be there but would have already been sucked into the sun by gravity. Perhaps creation is not that old do you think.
4- The Decay of Earth’s Magnetic Field:
Dr. Wilmington gives this as a reason for a recent creation date. He says, "This field, it has been shown, has a half-life of 1400 years. This means that it is weakened by 50 percent each fourteen centuries. It also means the magnetic field was twice as strong 1400 years ago as it is now, four times as strong 2800 years ago, and so on. Only 7000 years ago it must have been thirty-two times as strong. It is very doubtful that it could have been much stronger that this." (Willmington, p.15.) II- How of Creation:
A- The Full Grown Earth:
I have always said that God could do anything that Levi jeans company could do. This is of course said with tongue in cheek but I remind us that Levi jeans are made with the appearance of being worn or aged. They do not look new when they are. When God created the earth it did not look new but had the appearance of age. Adam was not a baby but a full grown man. Dr. Morris again says, "The world was created in a fully functional state from the beginning. The fruit trees already bearing fruit, the grasses and shrubs already blanketing the earth, the soils filled with needed nutrients to maintain their growth, the rocks laced with deposits of gold, iron, and other metals, as well as precious stones. The light of the stars could already be seen on the earth, and Adam and Eve were created full-grown man and woman. Animals also were make full-grown, able immediately to begin to ’multiply in the earth.’ " (Morris, Henry M. Biblical Creationism, Baker Books, Grand Rapids Michigan. 1993, p.24) For us or anyone else to say this is not possible is to say that God cannot create. We know this as atheism. Job understood that God created this. He said in Job 26:7 "He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing." This is significant when we realize that the prevailing thought of the day of Job was that the earth rested upon a giant elephant which was on a giant turtle.
B- The Six Days of Creation:
Are the six days of creation in Genesis one six literal 24 hour days? I wish to suggest that they are indeed. The very reason some would like to expand these to periods of time is the same as accepting the gap theory. Moses believed these were six literal days.
Exodus 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Exodus 31:17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
Lets look at these 6 days of creation. On the first day God created earth’s light and probably the angels. He activated and energized creation. (Genesis 1:2-5 ) On the second day He separated the water above and below. Lakes formed and rivers flowed. (Genesis 1:6-8 ). On the third day plant life was created. (Genesis 1:9-13 ). The fourth day the sun, moon and stars were formed. (Genesis 1:14-19 ) The fifth day God created fish to inhabit the sea and fowl for the air. (Genesis 1:20-23 ) On the sixth day we have the creation of land animals and man. (Genesis 1:24-31 ) God rested on the seventh day not because He was tired but because He was finished. (Genesis 2:1-3 ). God created everything out of nothing and then sat back and declared it to be good.
III- The Why of Creation:
Why did God create His creation? Revelation 4:11 says concerning this, "for thy pleasure they are and were created." God took delight in creation as He created it. (See Genesis 1:4, 10, Genesis 1:12, Genesis 1:18, Genesis 1:21, Genesis 1:25) In Genesis 1:31 says He saw it was, "Very good." He created it for His glory.
Job 38:7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Psalms 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
Isaiah 43:7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
God is a jealous God and wants to be praised. He desires this not out of conceit and pride but because He is more majestic and His ways higher than our ways and His power more powerful. The God of this universe the Creator desires and deserves our praise.