If God makes a full grown tree in one day that is instantly 100 years old, then...?

Question

Couldn't He also make an earth in one day that is a thousand years old?

Original Question: If God made a full grown tree in 1 day and you were to chop it down and count 100 rings, would it be 1 day or 100 years old?

I pose this question as a preface for the thoughts on the young earth / old earth debate.

Even the Christian community is in many ways unable to come to terms with this idea (Not that it is a matter of salvation, but merely understanding).

This is purely for pondering and discussion's sake.

Big Red: That debate can be discussed on another thread. :)

Croco: There is no deception or deceiving because what is, is simply what is. We just haven't figured out completely "what is." That is what this discussion is about.

Le Big Mac: I am not an authority figure and this is not a test. If I knew the answer then I would not have asked. I am simply curious about other's thought process while pondering this, particularly as it relates to the young earth/old earth debate and, of course, the accuracy of carbon dating.

Lionof: Yes, Adam and Eve were created fully grown. This is a good point when considering this.

Jessica: You bring up a good point. God being outside of time, that is. And we know that Scripture states in 2 Peter 3:8 "But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." I wonder all the ways this verse would play in the old/young earth debate?

Peter D: Not only has He claimed to have made the earth in one day, but he claims to have also made a full grown man in one day. If you were "stumped" (Pun intended) by the idea of HIm having made a tree in one day, I really wonder what you think about Adam and Eve having both been made as fully grown adults in one day.

AMDG: Your steadfastness is admirable. I don't think I have declared my stance on this pondering one way or another, but appreciate your loving, but firm reminder.

Answer 1

What on earth makes you think god ever created an apparently 100 year old tree in one day?

If someone claims it did make such a tree why would you believe him? Would you believe me if I made a very far-fetched claim? If not, then why not?

Which is easier to believe, that god created such a tree or that the tree is actually 100 years old?

EDIT: Says who?

Answer 2

Yes... and by the above assumption he could make the light from stars 12 billion light years away...... The problem with that argument in the young earth debate is that as far as science is concerned that star is 12 billion years old.. there is no way to tell otherwise.... In fact I'll carry the argument further... God could have created the world yesterday and placed the memories of an entire lifetime (as well as the universe) in my head.... But in the end we can only know what we can perceive and measure. The existence of God is difficult to prove empirically...

Edit:
Question... Did Adam have a belly button?

Answer 3

God is the first cause of the material universe and everything in it. He can do anything He wants with it and anything in it. As the all powerful Creator everything is possible to Him.
That is why Christians who doubt the universe was created in six days (and accept the atheists claim that it is just a fairy story) are actually doubting the power of God.
How can anyone claim to be a proper Christian, if they doubt the power of God?
Don't follow the beliefs of athiests who have a vested interest in undermining Christianity and denying God the praise and glory which is rightfully His. If God exists as the Almighty Creator then never doubt that He is capable of creating in exactly the way described in His account in scripture. Why would He want to decieve us with a false account, or a fairy story? Hold fast to the unchanging word of God, and not the fickle and fashionable opinions of secular scientists.

Answer 4

A tree that is only a day old is still a day old. The "problem" with Bible literalists is that a day to God just may be 100 or 1000 or 1 million years. Time has no meaning to God. The Bible is a tool, written in a time when men couldn't fathom thousands of years, dinosaurs, or scientific theories. Men of that time didn't understand things the way science allows us to now, and if the Bible were written today, it would be in terms we could understand, but would probably seem inconsistent and outdated 2000 years from now.

Answer 5

Good question! I've wondered the same thing. Prayerfully you'll get some good, mature answers. Perhaps some links would be helpful too. Last I recall God is outside of our time. Like I heard what is a minute in heaven is like an hour on earth. (Just an example of what I heard.)
Starred for follow up.

Answer 6

It would be in reality one day old and the fault lies in the scientific method of dating trees by counting rings. It is as if God made some trees to have us develop this method and then fool us the next moment by creating a tree that doesnt follow this method of dating.

Answer 7

Don't you watch the History Channel or Discovery Channel?
If you put Common Sense to the Idea that the Earth or a tree was "MADE" inside some kind of mystic time warp by a heavenly being.
you'll answer your own question.

If David Karish and his WACO followers were put into biblical times, would we be praying to Karish??

Answer 8

In the Same way that God Created man as an adult, fully grown He is also able to create a world as old and able to support life.

Answer 9

Why would God deceive as to the actual age of the earth and/or the universe? Is he a liar?

Answer 10

Then that might be evidence one exists. But, of course, this has never happened.

BTW, not to play semnantics, but it is logically impossible to make something 100 years old in an instant - something could be made that APPEARS 100 years old, but unless it has actually been around that long, it isn't.