Remember Your Creator

Introduction

“Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity. Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, I have no pleasure in them.” (Eccl. 11:9-12:1, ESV.)

There are several passages that refer to remembering certain things.

“Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!” (Psalm 25:7.)

“But Abraham said, Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are tormented.” (Luke 16:25.)

And he (thief on the cross) said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." (Luke 23:42.)

Israel was commanded to: "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (Exodus 20:8.)

Jesus commanded his disciples, “This is my body which is given for you; this do in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19.)

Remembering your Creator does not mean a casual bringing to your mind occasionally, but rather to bear in mind, to give a fixed place, to stay. There are many things that might come to your mind that you do not want to recall. Paul wrote about the Gentiles and their attitude toward their Creator: “They did not like to retain God in their knowledge.” (Rom. 1:28.) Remembering your Creator is for everyone, not just those who are young. But the young might tend to forget God who made them. It means that you should honor and glorify God in your life. We were created for that purpose. “Fear God and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.” (12:13.) “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16.)

Three contrasts. In this context, several things are contrasted. One is the young and the old. The first part (11:9-12:1) refers to the young; the second part (12:1-7) refers to growing old and dying. This last section is a remarkable allegory on growing old. Some of the symbols introduced by Solomon are not very clear, but the overall message is clear.

SUN, LIGHT, MOON, and STARS: (12:2) Old age as clouds covering the sources of light.

The KEEPERS OF THE HOUSE: (12:3) Man’s body is liken to a house. The hands and arms tremble. His legs are weak. Have you ever noticed how the home of an aged person looks from outside? It is dark, the lights are off, and it seems that no one is home. The doors are locked.

GRINDERS, EYES, HEARING, etc. (12:3-4) Other parts of the body are failing: teeth, sight, and hearing.

ALMOND TREES: (12:5) The blossoms are white; may refer to whitening of the hairs of the head—one thing that flourishes. The grasshopper shall be a burden or it drags along. Difficulty walking.

SILVER CORD, GOLDEN BOWL, PITCHER: (12:6) Descriptions of death. The lamp goes out, the pitcher is broken, and water cannot be drawn at the well any more.

That is when the light of the sun, the moon, and the stars shall grow dim for you, and the rain clouds will never pass away. Then your arms, that have protected you, will tremble, and your legs, now strong, will grow weak. Your teeth will be too few to chew your food, and your eyes too dim to see clearly. Your ears will be deaf to the noise of the street. You will bearly be able to hear the mill as it grinds or music when it plays, but even the song of a bird shall awake you from sleep. You will be afraid of high places, and walking will be dangerous. Your hair will turn white; you will hardly be able to drag yourself along, and all desire will be gone. (GNB, Good News Bible)

A second contrast is between the Creator and the created. Solomon could have written, Remember thy Lord, God, Redeemer, Rock, Master, etc. But he chose to say, Remember thy Creator. This stands in contrast to man (young and old) who was created out of the dust of the earth. “And the Lord God formed man out of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul.” (Gen. 2:7.) We should remember who we are and who He is. Being made from the dust we shall return. “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” (12:7.) When we fail to glorify God, we fail to remember that we are created beings before the Creator.

Rejoicing and sorrowing are a third contrast. We could say, We will have good days and bad days. “Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth.” (11:9.) “I have no pleasure in them.” (12:1.) “Desire shall fail.” (12:5.) “But if a man live many years and rejoice in them all, yet let him remember the days of darkness. For they shall be many.” (11:8.) We should rejoice in the Lord always, not in the world or the flesh. (Phil. 4:4.)

Special things to note. I am impressed that Solomon spent so much effort describing the aging process with this lengthy analogy. In contrast, he spent little space and effort on the days of youthfulness. He did not give an analogy or any symbols to express what it is like to be young. It seems that he wanted the young to think about what is ahead. Your youth will shortly pass. It is vain in the sense that it is transitory. It is fleeting.

Secondly, the scene is a preacher (Solomon or Qoheleth, Heb.) trying to speak words of wisdom to those who are young. (12:9-14.) The Proverbs are for the young. “My son, hear the instruction of your father and forsake not the law of thy mother.” (Proverbs 1:8.) The preacher’s advise is good—Fear God; obey him in your life; and do that from your youth until old age and death! All preachers who know God and care about the young have given the same advise over the centuries of time. It is a timeless message and true. Those who are wise will listen to it. Solomon searched for the meaning to life. He found many things to be vain, especially if it is without God. The primarily reason to remember your Creator is because by doing so you can live with purpose and meaning in life. You can enjoy your youth, adulthood and old age if you acknowledge God. If not, then life is vain.

Thirdly, there are only two choices before you. The choices are either to remember your Creator or to forget Him. You will either use your life to glorify God or dishonor Him. You will either live sinfully in your life or godly. There is not a third option. Jesus said, “This is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For everyone that doeth evil hates the light, neither comes to the light lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth comes to the light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God.” (John 3:19-21.)

Here are some ways in which we forget God. Selfishness is forgetting God in others. When I think only of myself, I forget that all mankind is made in the image of God. We are all brothers and sisters in that we are from a common Father. Pride is forgetting God in yourself. An awareness of God leads to humility and an inner acknowledgement of sin. Worry is forgetting that God will take care of you. Jesus repeatedly taught, Take no thought for tomorrow. Do not be anxious about what you shall eat or drink of what you shall wear. Being unthankful is forgetting God. Paul said that the Gentiles “knowing God, glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks, but became vain in their imaginations and their foolish heart was darkened.” (Rom. 1:21.)

Some Analogies to Remember

In the likeness of Solomon’s intriguing description of growing old, here are some other analogies that are telling and true.

Two candles. Charles H. Spurgeon, the great preacher of London, England, a hundred years ago took two candles into the pulpit. One was less than an inch high. The other reached the floor. He lighted them both and said, “When an old man is saved, it is like lighting this short candle. It is lighted all right, but it goes out in an hour. When a young person is saved, it is like lighting this long one. It will burn for days.”

The problem is not just that the candle burned only for a short time. The serious issue is that while the candle was not burning, darkness reigned in the person’s life and around him. The familiar song that children sing, This Little Light of Mine, is exactly on target.

The young today should remember their Creator by obeying the Gospel of Christ and becoming his disciple. Think about how a Gentile or Jewish young person would remember their Creator in their day. Morally and spiritually, one's life should be the same under both covenants. Jews would have followed the percepts of the Law while awaiting the coming Messiah. Gentiles would have prayed, lived by faith in God while awaiting the Messiah. Today, you obey and commit your life to Jesus Christ. If you are old enough, that is, responsible for moral and spiritual behavior, you are either saved in Christ or lost in sin. Most people who have obeyed the Gospel have done so between the ages of 14 and 25. This is not just being immersed in water, but it is similar to a marriage in that it is for life. It involves a mature commitment to Jesus Christ to become his disciple.

Two vessels: water pots or garbage cans. “Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” (2 Tim. 2:20-22.)

I heard a sermon once titled, “Waterpots or Garbage Cans.” The preacher used this text from Second Timothy. Your life is either one or the other. There are only two minds that a person can have. Either one is spiritually-minded or carnally-minded. Paul wrote, “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” (Rom. 8:6.) Our bodies and lives are like vessels; they are either clean or unclean. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit of God. (1 Cor. 6:19.) But God will not dwell where sin lives.