A question many children will inevitably ask is, "What about the dinosaurs?" They're in there! (underneath the ground being dug up...the fossil record). God has given us our incredible minds. We can deploy logic, reasoning (sort of the same thing). We can use mathematics, think in terms of philosophy. We can examine world history. And archaeology. Etc, etc...

The complexity of even the simplest cells. Wow, absolutely! In fact, look up mainstream science sources outside Christianity. Google "bacteria". Sources (secular science) will describe mind boggling complexity. The flagella, even, to scratch the surface (the tail, as you know of course). Sources go over much of that and concede "too complex for us to understand." They admit they do not understand the intricate mechanisms. And they're speaking of just the flagella!

God is a Being outside time. He created time as Titus 1:2 and 2 Timothy 1:9 say. The very first word in scripture 'bereshit' (in the beginning). The Gospel of John's opening verses. It took science nearly 2,000 years to also come to the conclusion that time also had a beginning!

You are a very learned man, Mr. Gieschen. Good article! However,... do we really have to insist "the scriptures say our planet is 'so and so years old' (thousands of years old)? Is that assertion going to help a non-believer accept Christ's saving grace and salvation? It's a secondary issue (secondary doesn't imply 'not important', it just means it is NOT a foundational tenet of our faith). Hence, it is not found in the Apostles Creed (or Nicene). The Hebrew word Yom (day) have several meanings. As of my post, is the 'day of the Lord' gonna happen tomorrow?

So, God is outside time. He created time (In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him and without Him nothing was made that was made). Writings by the author of the Gospel of John, guided and inspired by the Holy Spirit. "Time" as we perceive it is not constrained with God. God made time when He created matter. 'A day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day' means our Creator does not 'experience' time like His creation does. We can't even fathom 'a million years ago' or a billion years. Not with God! I love the book of Job when God questions him. Job gives up, "No, Lord, I cannot comprehend your awesome ways!" [paraphrase].

Now, I won't go on much further. The bible was not written to us. Moses was not writing to us, he was writing to those living in 1400 BC (or appr. 1260 BC, a some purport). David's psalms were written 'to' us. It was written 'to' those living in 1000 BC. Daniel 'to' the Babylonian exiles of the 6th century BC. The Gospels were written 'to' its 1st century AD audience. This is a key point and a valuable perspective when we are interpreting the scriptures. The bible was written "FOR" us! It transcends the past, present, and future. It is 'for' all generations. It is as much viable for us today and it was for all centuries prior.

So, could the Israelites living in 1400 BC understand the universe and our planet like we do today? (we still have tons to learn and can never fully understand creation in its totality). Did God perhaps create life's DNA for the express purpose of 'the earth (or land) brought forth (or produced) vegetation' (Gen. 1:12) and 'let the earth (or land...identical Hebrew word for both) produce living creatures' (Gen. 1:24). <