A Young Earth That Looks Old

According to the Bible, our planet is about 6000 years old. Yet our world and the universe around it look much older than this. Layers in rock and ice, radiometric dating, non-random distribution of species - all give evidence of a world millions or billions of years old. Astronomic observation reveals a universe that appears to be about 14 billion years in age.

These two views are so wide apart, that a year here or there in one's calculations hardly matters. It is convenient, therefore, simply to refer to these two views as Young Earth Creationism (YEC) and Old Earth Creationism (OEC). Both views have earnest and intelligent Christian supporters. In the denomination of which I am a part, the PCA, men holding both positions labor together for the cause of the gospel.

I am a Young Earth Creationist. Holding this position leaves me with several obligations. First, I must be certain to live at peace with those who think otherwise on this matter. We are all brothers in Christ. Second, I must explain why the issue matters. What difference does it make, after all, how old the planet is - as long as we affirm that God made it? Third, I must answer the most obvious question raised by my position: why would God make a young planet that looks old?

Is God a deceiver? Imagine a furniture maker who specializes in creating fake antiques. He crafts a new table, for example, and then puts the table through a series of treatments that give it the appearance of having aged several hundred years. The trickster then puts "wear" into the table: nicks, scratches, bang marks - whatever it takes to convince a prospective customer that the table is a genuine antique.

If the creation really is only 6000 years old (and I believe that it is), then God must be really good at "faking it." The simple fact of the matter is that the world looks a lot older than this. It is in trying to deny this observation that Creation Science so badly goes awry. There is just no use getting around the pervasive appearance of great age.

Which leaves me with a question I have to answer if anyone is to going take the Young Earth Creationist position seriously: Why would God make a young earth that looks old?