The more we read from the works of evolutionary scientists, the more unimpressed we are with their conclusions. As almost everyone knows, the earth is supposed to be almost five billion years old, while man has only been around some three or four million years. These estimates are pure speculation based upon dating methods that are grounded in evolutionary assumptions. There is no hardcore test that can determine the age of the earth. Most people believe the evolutionary estimates simply because they accept what is presented in the media.

Several years ago, some scientists discovered human bones buried under thick deposits of mud in California. The bones were submitted to competent authorities who declared them to be about 75,000 years old. Unfortunately, however, as they dug deeper, they found an old United States Army button. Now, maybe the United States had an army 75,000 years ago -- or just maybe the scientific dating methods are not all that reliable.

In more recent years, an archaeological excavation team, let by professor Mituo Kawaga of Beppu University, discovered drawings on the wall of a cave on the Japanese Island of Kyushu. The excited scientists announced that the drawings were from 10,000 to 13,000 years old. Alas, a lifelong resident of the area came forward to confess that he had often scribbled on the walls of the cave with charcoal when he was a boy. The scientist had only missed it by about 99.99%.

Why is it that when scientists say that something is billions of years old, the average person believes it as if the object had a date carved upon it? When Christians accept the dates which are part of the evolutionary system, they are playing right into the hands of infidelity.

A number of years ago, the then Secretary-General of the United Nations, Dag Hammarskjold of Norway died when the airplane in which he was traveling on United Nations business crashed in the African country of Zambia. The plane's destination had been the town of Nadola. After the accident, investigators searched the wreckage and the area around it for clues as to the cause of the accident. In the wreckage, the investigators came across an open map that showed a town near Leopoldville in the Congo that was called Nadolo. The pilot of the plane, evidently, was being guided in his landing by the map showing Nadolo. He must have assumed that he had a thousand more feet in altitude than he actually had. Nadola is at a higher altitude than Nadolo. As a result, the plane had crashed in an open field in the darkness of Africa. All the while the pilot thinking that he had a thousand more feet, but he didn't! He had opened the map to the wrong section!

Such a small difference! The difference was between an "O" and an "A." One letter was the only difference between the two towns. Two towns in two different countries with such a small difference in their names. However, that very small difference became the difference between life and death for Dag Hammarskjold and the others on the plane that night.

Many times a small difference, a small misunderstanding can mean the difference between a disaster and a destination. Sadly, there will be many who will have disasters with respect to their eternal destiny because they assumed, were careless or misunderstood the truth that leads to eternal life. Many there are that are traveling the broad way that leads to destruction rather than the narrow way that leads to eternal life (Matthew 7:13-14). Let us never assume that we know the way or that someone that we respect knows the way. Let us never be careless in following the directions that we have been given in God's Word to guide us to our eternal home. Let us always be careful to rightly divide the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15) that we not misunderstand the directions that we have received.

Remember, Jesus is the only way to eternal life (John 14:6) and that there is a way that seems right to man, but in reality it is the way of death (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25). May we always be sure to follow the right direction.