Light Speed & Young Earth Postscript

The best explanation I see for the problem comes from the YouTube video "Origins: Distant Starlight in a Young Universe" (here) by astronomer and astrophysicist, Dr. Jason Lisle. This has been my thinking although I could not articulate it as Dr. Lisle of course.

One of his earlier videos is (here) and in it he gives several different views of Christian young earthers. 

I believe that the speed of light at creation was instant (so does Lisle). He says that scientists can measure the speed of reflected light only, and thus in one direction only, and this creates a huge problem for those who insist that the age of the cosmos being six thousand years is not consistent with the speed of light. Lisle shows how it involves itself into circular reason and will remain so till science can figure out how to measure un-reflected light, going in only one direction. Listen to the first link (his latest) where his screen shots demonstrate what he is saying.

But, let me add a few thoughts from a few pertinent passages.

"And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good." (Gen. 1 14-18)

I believe that the words "he made the stars also" include the idea that he made them for similar reasons for making the moon and sun. He certainly included them in the category of "light" like sun and moon. The moon of course only reflects light. Our sun, being a star, shines like the other stars mentioned. Both sun and stars "rule" by their light giving power, by their glory and radiation. The sun rules the day and the moon rules the night. But, over what do the stars rule? Since they are not seen during the day, it would seem that they must therefore rule the night along with the moon. 

Further, when he is said to make "the stars also" he no doubt includes the idea that the stars, like the sun and moon, will also be "for signs, and for seasons, and for day, and years." But, if those stars were not visible to Adam and Eve when created (because their light could not have reached earth instantly according to the theory), then how could they have been for signs to them? How could they use them in farm planning, for marking seasons and times, if they were not visible for the first humans? That the stars were to be used by man is also seen in these words:

"Thus saith the LORD, which gives the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divides the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name." (Jer. 31: 35)

Obviously, the light of the stars must have instantly reached earth at the time of their birth for Adam, Seth, and Enoch to see them and to give us their ancient names. 

Further, the text says that the Lord "set" in the heavens, in the firmament of outer space, the sun, moon, and stars. That is, he gave each their fixed position. The bible also tells us that the Creator gave each one his own name (Psa. 147: 4) I also fully believe that the names of the leading stars and all the Constellations and Decans were also named by him and were revealed to Adam, Seth, and Enoch and that they produced the first Zodiac (Mazzaroth- Job 38: 32), which tells the story of the gospel.

One cannot separate a star from its radiance, light emission, effulgence, or "brightness." The Son of God is the "brightness of the Father's  glory" (Heb. 1: 3). In this the Father is likened to the sun, or to a shining star, and the brilliant emanations of them are like the Son of God. Christ is deity revealed, the Word of God.

One day, when the day of judgment comes, the sun, moon, and stars will by omnipotence be made to suspend their light emitting. If God can cause light to immediately stop coming, why can he not cause it to immediately shine all the way to earth when created? 

"The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining." (Joel 2: 10; and 3: 15)

"Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken." (Matt. 24: 29)