Wednesday, August 7, 2019
Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.” Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky. Remember him before your legs—the guards of your house—start to tremble; and before your shoulders—the strong men—stoop. Remember him before your teeth—your few remaining servants—stop grinding; and before your eyes—the women looking through the windows—see dimly. Remember him before the door to life’s opportunities is closed and the sound of work fades. Now you rise at the first chirping of the birds, but then all their sounds will grow faint. Remember him before you become fearful of falling and worry about danger in the streets; before your hair turns white like an almond tree in bloom, and you drag along without energy like a dying grasshopper, and the caperberry no longer inspires sexual desire. Remember him before you near the grave, your everlasting home, when the mourners will weep at your funeral. Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless.”
That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad. Ecclesiastes 12:1-8, 13-14[2]
I believe Solomon stops short of dementia,
but not far short! He mentions just
about every low point you need to get depressed about the future. Hair turned white, legs wobbly, eyes dim, sexual
desire gone, drooping posture, and, for good measure he throws in a dental
situation that even makes eating a chore.
As I write the sun’s morning glow is beginning to peek out from behind
the tree line, so I got up and opened the shades so I won’t miss out on a
pretty sunrise while I can still see and hear the birds chirping; assisted by trifocal
glasses and powerful hearing aids, of course. It’s hard to place oneself on Solomon’s
scale of physical woes increasing age seems to gradually, but gleefully bestow
on the aging. But that gets markedly easier
as you do push the threescore-and-ten barrier.
This passage is generally preached with young
people in mind, an urging to get right with God before it’s too late. However, anything this side of the grave is
appropriate. Even at 70, 80 or 105, you
are “young" compared to those you read
about in the obituary column.
Very often in ministry I’ve had the privilege
to visit very senior saints confined in nursing homes or
their own homes, unable to do much for themselves because of a litany of
maladies. And with hardly an exception,
they all remark in one way or another their wonder at why God still
has them here. I quickly
agree that I wonder that too, but then pose the possibility that exists for
ministry at every age and stage of life, unwell in body or not. The inference, of course, is that God is not
done with us here if we’re still breathing.
I give you Iris Jones as a prime
example. Confined the last decade to a
nursing home for a good bit of Solomon’s medical chart, Mrs. Iris ministered
more than most, writing cards of encouragement to her pastor and wife with
shaky hand, praying long and strong, and smiling. Those were what she could do, and, despite
severe headaches, failing strength of legs and balance, and bodily pain more
than most could bear, she made you feel like you were the most important person
walking on planet earth. She should’ve
been named Barnabas, the Encourager!
For You Today
Whatever you can do
today, use the strength God still allows; it won’t last forever!
Go to VIDEO
[1]
Title Image: Pixabay.com Unless otherwise noted, Scripture used from
The
New Living Translation©
