REMEMBER NOW THY CREATOR

Ecclesiastes 12:1

Victor M. Eskew

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   The Bible contains the powerful words from the mind of a divine sovereign God.

1.    2 Timothy 3:16

2.    2 Peter 1:21

3.    The phrase “word of God” is found 49 times in the King James Version.

 

B.   In this holy Book, there are times when certain groups are addressed by God.

 

C.   This morning, we want to look at a verse wherein God addresses the youth of the world.  The verse is found in Ecclesiastes 12:1.

 

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.

 

I.             THE ACT OF MIND:  Remember

 

A.   The mind of man is an amazing instrument.

1.    We can think.

2.    We can reason.

3.    We can will.

4.    We can discern.

5.    We can express emotions.

 

B.   The mind of every human being also has the capacity to remember.

1.    It is an essential for life (i.e., each person remembers who they have married).

2.    It can be a curse (Ex., the rich man in torments, Luke 16:25).

3.    It can be a blessing.

a.    We can remember answers for a test.

b.    We can remember our address.

c.    We can remember how to perform CPR.

 

C.   In the spiritual realm, it is important for us to remember.

1.    To remember, involves bringing to one’s mind in order to contemplate.

2.    The opposite of remembering is forgetting.

a.    In the days of Jeremiah, Israel forgot God (Jer. 2:32).

 

Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire?  yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

 

b.    It is possible for Christians to forget that they were purged from their sins (2 Pet. 1:9).

 

But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

 

3.    This is why we have the Bible in written form.  We can read it and remember.

This is why preachers preach the gospel.  Man needs to be reminded of the things God has commanded.

4.    The book of Ecclesiastes opens with these words:  “The words of the Preacher…”

a.    In chapter 12, he fulfills one of his obligations.

b.    He exhorts some of his readers to remember.

 

II.           THE ADVERB OF TIME: Now

 

A.   The little word “now” carries several definitions.

1.    At this present moment

2.    Without further delay, immediately

3.    Used to strengthen a command or entreaty

 

B.   At this present moment

1.    This present moment is all that we know for certain we have.

2.    We think we will have this afternoon and tomorrow, and the chances are high that we will, but there is no guarantee.

3.    Example:  The rich farmer (Luke 12:16-21).

a.    He thought he had plenty of time to enjoy the abundance of his bountiful harvest.

b.    Luke 12:20

 

But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee:  then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

 

4.    Proverbs 27:1

 

Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

 

5.    Solomon wants his readers to remember something today.  Not tomorrow.  Not next week.  Not next year.  Not when I get older.  Not when I have time.

 

C.   Without further delay, immediately

1.    Some things need to be remembered on the spot.

a.    Answers on a test

b.    The Heimlich maneuver when someone is choking

c.    How to stop on a ski slope if you start moving too fast

2.    Solomon would tell us today that what he wants us to remember needs to be remembered immediately, that is, without further delay. 

3.    The reason for this is because individuals will make all kinds of excuses why they do not need to remember this right now.

 

III.         THE AGENT OF CREATION:  Thy Creator

 

A.   Solomon wants a group of individuals to remember the agent of Creation, that is, the Creator.

 

B.   The Creator is the one who can bring things into existence.

1.    Genesis 1:1

 

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

 

2.    He is the one who can create just by speaking the word (Ps. 33:9).

 

For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

 

3.    He has created the visible things we can see and the invisible things that we cannot see (Col. 1:16).

 

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers:  all things were created by him, and for him.

 

C.   If there is a Creator, then…

1.    A God of power and wisdom exists

2.    He is the sovereign over all things that He has created.  In other words, He holds all authority over the Creation.

3.    Having created us, we must have a purpose for our existence.

4.    Having created us, He must have a plan for our lives.

 

D.   Yes, Solomon says:  “Remember now thy Creator.”  However, how many of us have given Him serious contemplation this morning, or this week, or this New Year?

 

IV.         THE AGE OF IMPORTANCE:  In the days of thy youth

 

A.   The lifespan of a human being can be divided into various stages or seasons:  baby, toddler, young child, preteen, teen, young adult, middle age, and old age.

 

B.   We literally fly through these stages of life.

1.    James tells us that life is like a vapor (Jam. 4:14).

 

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow.  For what is your life?  It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

 

2.    It is swifter than a weaver’s shuttle (Job 7:6).

3.    Our days are like shadow (Job 8:9).

4.    Our lives are like the wind that passes and comes not again (Ps. 78:39).

5.    Our lives are like the grass that springs up and soon fades away (1 Pet. 1:24).

 

C.   Solomon exhort young people to remember the Creator right now.

1.    You have many more years to serve God than the elderly do.

2.    Right now you are vibrant and strong.

3.    Right now you have the ability to grasp things very quickly.

 

D.   We have several examples of young individuals serving their Creator.

1.    Joseph

2.    The three Hebrew youths:  Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego

3.    David

4.    Mary the mother of Jesus

5.    Timothy and Titus

 

V.           THE AFFLICTION OF AGING: while the evil days come not

 

A.   Solomon describes old age as “the evil days.”

1.    The word “evil” here does not mean immoral and violent.”

2.    The word involves that which is difficult, hard, and tormenting.

 

B.   I remember, as I was aging I had a difficult year in my 20s and another difficult year in my 30s.  The 40s were good, but there were some struggles.  At the age of 50 things begin to change:  muscles, digestion, stamina, strength, and comprehension.  I am 65.  I am not decrepit, but I am not where I was 15 or 20 years ago.  Those over 70 will tell you that is when some radical things happen to the body:  joints, bones, heart, kidneys, eyes, and the mind.

 

C.   All of these things hinder one’s ability to serve the Creator the way he would like. 

1.    A person can reach old age with the knowledge that he has been diligent during his early years to submit to the Creator.

2.    Or, a person can get to old age and regret that he did not commit to faithful service to God earlier in life.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   The admonition of Solomon is so simple:  “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.”

1.    Remember

2.    Remember now

3.    Remember the Creator now

4.    Remember the Creator now while you are young

 

B.   The little word “now” is used almost 400 times in the New Testament.  There are a few verses that we want to mention in closing.

1.    A feast is now ready (Luke 14:17)

2.    We learn about that feast in God’s Word (Acts 20:32)

3.    To have access to this feast, there are conditions:

a.    Faith (Heb. 10:38)

b.    Repentance (Acts 17:30)

c.    Baptism, that is, immersion in water for the remission of sins (Acts 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21).

4.    Those who partake of the feast reap the benefits:

a.    “…being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him” (Rom. 5:9)

b.    “But now in Christ Jesus, ye who sometime were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ” (Eph. 2:13).

c.    Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God” (Eph. 2:19).

d.    “Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God, which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy” (1 Pet. 2:10).

5.    2 Corinthians 6:2

 

…behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.