Question: How is it possible to believe the biblical narrative of creation (6000 yr old earth? It is very clear that the Earth has had life on well before this time? (Ex. Ice age, dinosaurs)

There nothing to say that the earth is 6000yrs old. The bible describes creation as we know it today, and the earths uses as it is now.

It is silly to argue that the earth is only 6000 years old and it is easy to argue that the earth is a lot older than 6000 years old (e.g. dinosaur and ice age like you mentioned)

However, this isn’t inconsistent with the bible. The first verse of the bible says,

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Gen1:1

“in the beginning”

This statement is very vague and definitely doesn’t have time constraints (as does the rest of Genesis 1). There easily could’ve been a previous creation OR God could’ve created a world that was already aged and old or any other theory of the earths origin that you can think of. But we don’t know and we never will know and it doesn’t really matter.

“in the beginning”

This is a massive statement yet it’s said so simply, we think it’s clear that God doesn’t want us to get caught up on these details of how exactly everything started, because it is impossible for us to comprehend the origins of the universe. He wants the message contained in the rest of the bible to change our lives not for us to be distracted by the details of how things started. A futile task.

Also God gives Job this challenge which back Gen 1:1:
“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
Tell me, if you understand” (Job 38:4)

Another reason we can’t comprehend the timeframe of the earth is Gen 1:2

“And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light”

Without light time cannot exist because without light, electromagnetic forces, chemistry cannot happen. We cannot comprehend something that is timeless. This is another reason that we cannot comprehend how God made everything.

The bible is long enough and confusing as it is.. Why would it be important for us to decipher the origin of the universe?

What is important is that we understand how awesome God’s grace, God’s plan and God’s way of life are.