In our modern world of physicists and astrophysists, mathematicians and countless research analysts, what do the scientists really KNOW beyond what they observe?
This particular discussion is about the age of Methusaleh. No, not the one in the Bible that lived to 969. This is about a star that has been discovered that is – now get this – it is older than the universe! That is the report of the scientists. It came before the Big Bang—which they claim started everything!
Now before we go any further, hear these words from the book of Job:
Job 38:2 2”Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge?
One of our younger members recently picked up this point from a youtube he happened to see that shows how the scientists can’t justify their own theories.
During some unoccupied time on his job—well used—he has been watching some mindstretching scientific youtubes. These videos purport to “explain” what they know, but as young Lukas Switzer keenly observed, in reality they are only showing what they DON’T know!
I would like you to hear just a little of one of these youtubes. The subject being discussed is Methusaleh, which is the name they have assigned to what is thought to be the oldest star. The scientists are working HARD to understand their own theories! Each new study raises new questions.
It is interesting to pick up the words the narrator uses about the scientists—like a statement preceded by “perhaps” or “no one knows for sure,” or the observation “shocked” or “perplexed the world,” or “we cannot say with accuracy” or “this does not explain,” or “this is something unknown to scientists”—and so on. All these statements from people who have studied astronomy for years!
Here is the best: “It seems we have missed something.”
The problem: They are basing their studies on the wrong SOURCE. The Bible is not ABOUT science, but it does state some basic facts that would help if they recognized them.
First: A Creator that is “from everlasting to everlasting.” That is beyond us, but it is surely better than something that came “before the big bang”!
Psalm 90:1–2 1Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. 2Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
The youtube narrator gives details of various studies that the scientists are continuing to launch in an effort to reconcile and adjust their conflicting theories. What a task that is!
But underlying it is ALL about THEORIES, not facts. That is all they can do: keep testing their theories and see what holds up and what falls apart.
The big problem with Methusaleh is HOW its age is calculated. If this star was formed BEFORE what they believe to have been the beginning of all space, time, and matter, where was it?
The star has been studied for more than 20 years, but is still largely an unknown as the scientists keep changing the “estimated” age of the earth, age of the universe, the rate of expansion of the universe, the rate of “decay” in the life of a star and its brightness, and so on and on.
What is the deeper problem? Listen to the Psalmist:
Psalm 14:1 1The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”
Note that in God’s view, such a one is a “fool.” A fool is one lacking in basic knowledge or understanding. They may have a lot of man’s knowledge, but they have no honor for the Creator and Maker of it all!
Describing a host of people today, denying the God who gives all of us—including them—every breath and heartbeat, what fools! People without knowledge, without understanding.
Job says it plainly:
Job 22:17 (Septuagint version) 17Who say, What will the Lord do to us? or what will the Almighty bring upon us?
The Psalmist tells the reason for this attitude:
Psalm 35:1 (svt) 1The transgressor, that he may sin, says within himself, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
No reverence, no fear, no awe.
Scientists apparently haven’t published much about Methusaleh because it raises more questions than they can answer. Not helpful to their cause!
How different the mind of God’s prophet Isaiah:
Isaiah 40:26 26Lift up your eyes on high, And see who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, By the greatness of His might And the strength of His power; Not one is missing.
How can He do it? He is the everlasting God, the Creator!
Isaiah 40:28 28Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.
God is looking for a certain spirit, a humble attitude. He doesn’t want the self-exalting, the “ME” generation that is all about pleasure and personal gain. He wants the humble and contrite for His family. The rest can go their way, get what they can at the moment, that is all they will get. To the humble He holds out the promise of dwelling “with Him.” Think about that!!
Isaiah 57:15 15For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
And don’t miss a deeper meaning here. The word “revive” means more than bring back to life. It means to KEEP alive, SUSTAIN life, GIVE life FOREVER! Here is from the lexicon:
live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live forever (TWOT)
live, i.e., be alive (Ge 5:3); keep alive, preserve life,… keep alive, save a life, spare a life (DBL)
It is God’s plan to “Keep ALIVE” and “preserve life” of the humble, obedient ones! And this is said by “the lofty one who inhabits eternity.”
When the Bible says, “Thus says the Lord” or “Thus says the Lord God of hosts,” He isn’t guessing, He KNOWS. What does He say about His creation?
Isaiah 45:11–12 11Thus says the Lord, The Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: “Ask Me of things to come concerning My sons; And concerning the work of My hands, you command Me. 12I have made the earth, And created man on it. I—My hands—stretched out the heavens, And all their host I have commanded.
He “stretched out the heavens”—through vastness we cannot begin to comprehend. Billions of light years? And that doesn’t even begin to include all that God has in His universes!
The Psalmist put us in our proper place when he writes:
Psalm 115:16 16The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s; But the earth He has given to the children of men.
We have NOTHING without His knowledge!
Isaiah 42:5 5Thus says God the Lord, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breath [nephesh] to the people on it [the earth], And spirit [ruach, life] to those who walk on it [the earth]:
That’s where we are, breathing His air, walking on His earth.
If people today—no, we aren’t concerned with them, we are responsible for OURSELVES. If WE could be always aware that every BREATH (nephesh) is from God, our very spirit (ruach, LIFE) is from HIM, how totally dependent we are… shouldn’t it humble us? Shouldn’t it move us to a deeper awe of His might, to be more focused on His Word, and our obligation to God for our life now and our hope of future life?
The scientists look at the heavens, and try to explain HOW it operates. It is all about their THEORIES rather than standing back and saying, WHAT is this? WHERE did it come from? WHO is responsible here?
Can we set our finite minds against God’s infinite creation? It is the mind of man versus the mind of God.
The Corinthians felt superior with their great education. They were looking down their noses at Paul—who was he, a Hebrew? What did he know?
His reply to them should have brought them to their senses. Hear his appeal:
1 Corinthians 3:18–20 18Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; 20and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”
Man will go on guesses, while GOD KNOWS, and what we want is His plan for our earth, and HIS way to LIFE.
Then He can give us the knowledge of His creation. He can even tell us how old Methusaleh is!
When the time is right!