My good friend Brian Collins has written a really great post you have to read at the BJU School of Religion blog—which you have to subscribe to. Brian presents some important exegetical evidence for the young earth creation position:
The suffering of the non-human world is described as a condition of bondage, groaning, and pain as a result of sin (Rom. 8:20; Gen. 3:17-19). The earth awaits redemption (Rom. 8:23), and included in that redemption is the end of animal suffering and pain (Isa. 11:6-9; 65:25).
Did you catch that? Have you ever seen Romans 8 put in service of a young earth cosmology? It’s an argument that should become commonplace among conservative evangelicals and fundamentalists. Basically, the problem of evil becomes pretty difficult if you posit that the groaning and travail of creation happened before human sin.
I urge you to read the article. Click here.