If the Lord wills, over the remaining weeks in this month of September, I would like to show you some things that are good to remember. Throughout the Bible, the inspired writers declare a need to remember specific things, things that will benefit you and help focus your mind on what is good and profitable to your soul.
“Remember now your Creator…”
In
Ecclesiastes 12 we find Solomon advising both younger and older people to remember their Creator.
“Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them.”” (Ecclesiastes 12:1 NKJV)
To establish
a firm foundation of faith and trust in God from youth is a wonderful benefit
in life. Tasting and seeing that the LORD is good (Psalm 34:8) from a young age and learning to trust Him as we follow
His commands enables us to persevere through challenges and trials with
strength and might that comes only from God (Ephesians 6:10-18). Developing an unwavering faith helps us face the
trials that can come with life and aging with peace and grace: discomfort,
weakness in hands and legs, loss of teeth and/or appetite, trouble sleeping, failing
eyesight, hearing loss, general aging/frailty, and death (Ecclesiastes 12:2-5).
“Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the well.” (Ecclesiastes 12:6 NKJV)
Solomon restates
his advice “Remember your Creator” in verse 6 to both affirm its
importance and, in my opinion, to include those who may have come to God later
in their life. Maybe trials and struggles in life brought you to your knees and
you turned to God for help and comfort. Maybe you grew tired of years of wandering
and desired to walk with a purpose that was not of your own making, and you sought
God and found Him (Acts 17:26-27). At
some point in your life, whether from youth, or mid-life, it is important to
remember God and acknowledge who we are before Him (Psalm 16:2, 27:8, Isaiah 64:8). In remembering Him, we need to also
find out what is acceptable to Him, and understand His will (Ephesians 5:8-10, 15-17) so we can humbly
obey it (Romans 12, James 1:21-25).
It doesn’t
matter when you come to God; you haven’t missed out entirely if you didn’t know
Him from your youth, but I beg you to understand that if you are holding back from
fully following Him because you think you will have time “tomorrow,” that day
may not come. We are not guaranteed tomorrow, nor are we guaranteed life as we
know it right now. A stroke, an aneurism, a heart attack (Ecclesiastes 12:6-7); any of these life-altering (and sometimes life-ending) events could
happen while you wait until you “have a convenient time” (Acts 24:24-25).
Note: Another event we all must be prepared for is Jesus second coming (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, 2 Peter 3:10-15) – only God Himself knows when that will be (Matthew 24:36), our responsibility is to be ready when it comes (Matthew 24:42-44).
The bottom
line is: take time right now to remember
God and submit to His will.
Please read
and consider these passages that not only reiterate the advice to remember our God,
but encourage us to also think about all He has done for us, continues to do
for us, and promises to do for us. As you read, think of all that God has
brought you through: Psalm 20:7,
Psalm 63:6-8, Psalm 77:11-12, Psalm 103:17-18, Psalm 105:4-5. “Meditate” also means
to remember, to recall to your mind,
so please read these passages as well: Psalm 119:15-16; 23, 48, 148, Psalm
143:5, 1 Timothy 4:15
It is God
who created us and not we ourselves (Psalm
100), He has loved us enough to provide us with His word, the Bible, and with
a Saviour – His Son, Jesus Christ (1 John
4:9-10, 14-16). Remember your
Creator today while you still have time and a mind to reason and obey. God does
not want you to perish, He wants you to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9); He desires that you be
saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Are you
willing?
The benefits
of living with God and for God far,
far outweigh the sacrifices you may have to make. Please let go of whatever is
holding you back, remember you Creator and turn to Him; seek God and find Him TODAY.
You can do it! So can I!!
