Remember Your Creator
REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR (Living Our Lives with no Regrets)
Ecclesiastes 11:9 – 12:8 (ESV)
9 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.10 Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
1 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”; 2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, 3in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, 4 and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low— 5they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets— 6 before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, 7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. 8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.
We live in a world obsessed with staying young and prolonging life. Around the globe, people are spending their time, energy, and resources into anti-aging products, cosmetic procedures, specialized diets, and cutting-edge medical advancements, hoping to stay young looking. There are also stem cell therapies, injections, supplements that slows down or even reverse the aging process. This pursuit of youth is as old as human history. People have always longed for a way to stop the aging process and find the secret to eternal youth. There is this legend of the fountain of youth, believed to restore youth to anyone who drinks from it.
Interestingly, according to recent research, global life expectancy has risen significantly, with the average in 2024 reaching 73.3 years, and expected to rise to 78 years by 2050. Some scientists even claim that extending life beyond 100 years is not only possible but could become common in the future.
But despite all these efforts, the truth remains: no amount of medical advancement, technology, or beauty treatments can stop the natural process of aging. While caring for our health and appearance can be valuable, Ecclesiastes reminds us to "Remember your Creator ..." (Ecclesiastes 12:1).
The Preacher calls for living wisely by acknowledging God in every season of life, especially while we still have the energy and strength to do so. While life is full of uncertainties, remembering our Creator anchors us in eternal significance.
Today's passage guides us through stages of life and reminds us that true fulfillment lies in pursuing God. We’ll explore three key ideas: celebrating youth with wisdom, honoring God before life slows down, and focusing on eternal priorities.
I. Celebrate Your Youth with Wisdom (Ecclesiastes 11:9-10)
Brothers and sisters, how many of you remember the energy and excitement of your youth? Or maybe some of you are living it right now! Youth is often seen as a time of freedom, opportunity, and joy. But what does God say about how we should approach this season of life? Ecclesiastes 11:9-10 gives us wise counsel on how to celebrate youth without wasting it, how to live with both joy and responsibility. This message is for everyone—whether you're young or just young at heart—because the lessons of youth apply to all of us.
A. Celebrate Your Youth with Gratitude and Joy (v. 9a)
“Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth.”
Youth is a time to enjoy life’s blessings, and God wants us to do just that! The Bible doesn’t say we should walk through life like we’re always carrying a heavy load. No, we are called to embrace the joy of our youth with hearts full of gratitude. But here’s the key: celebrate your youth as a gift from God.
• Be Grateful for Every Moment: Don’t take your health, your opportunities, or your energy for granted. These are blessings from God! When we acknowledge that, we make our joy a form of worship.
• Pursue Godly Passions: Instead of getting caught up in worldly distractions, seek out things that align with God’s heart. Whether it’s building relationships, serving others, or growing in wisdom, pursue joy in a way that honors God.
B. Live Responsibly, Remembering Judgment (v. 9b)
“But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.”
As we celebrate, the Bible reminds us that youth isn’t a time to be reckless or live without care. There is accountability for every decision we make. The joy of youth comes with responsibility. Every action has consequences, and God sees everything.
• God Will Hold Us Accountable: We should be mindful of our actions. And also remember, God holds us accountable not only for actions we commit but also for the attitudes and intentions. God will evaluate how we lived whether we acted justly, lovingly, and faithfully toward Him and others.
• Consequences in Life: Think about it, decisions you make today can affect you physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Whether it’s harming your body, carrying emotional baggage, or distancing yourself from God, the choices you make in youth has a big impact on your future.
C. Recognize the Fleeting Nature of Youth (v. 10)
“Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.”
Youth is precious, but it is also temporary. It’s a season, not a lifetime. This verse reminds us that while youth should be enjoyed, it should not be the ultimate source of our fulfillment.
• Let Go of Anxiety: When you’re young there’s a tendency to worry about a lot of things. Worry about a lot of things beyond our control restricts our ability to live fully in the present. While challenges are part of life, trusting God helps us release unnecessary burdens. Jesus echoes this teaching in Matthew 6:34, telling us not to worry about tomorrow because each day has enough trouble of its own.
• While Youth Fades, God Remains: Youth is like a mist, here for a moment and then gone. We need to make the most of our time while we have it. Life has deeper meaning when rooted in God’s purpose. What will you have to show for it when it’s over? Remember your Creator now, before the days of trouble come, and you will find true, lasting joy.
As wonderful as youth is, we know it doesn’t last forever. The body weakens, energy fades, and life brings new challenges. That’s why it’s essential to honor God while we still have strength.
II. Honor Your Creator Before Life Slows Down (Ecclesiastes 12:1-5)
As we move into chapter 12, Solomon paints a picture of aging and the challenges that come with it. In verse 1, he warns about the days of trouble that will come.
1 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”
Life has different seasons, and youth is one of the most vibrant and energetic times. It is often the period when we may feel invincible, putting off thoughts of eternity and devotion to God for later years. However, as Ecclesiastes 12:2-5 poetically illustrates, the season of youth is fleeting, and the reality of aging will eventually set in.
A. The Reality of Aging
Ecclesiastes 12:2-5 illustrates the physical decline that comes with age. This passage serves as a reminder that life changes as we age. There are various interpretations of the poetic description of aging in those verses, and here are the most common:
- the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain - diminishing vitality and energy
- the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent - symbolizing weakness and frailty of hands and legs
-the grinders cease because they are few – loss of teeth
- those who look through the windows grow dim – loss of vision
- the shutting of doors – hearing loss
- rising at the sound of a bird - light sleep of old age, wakes up easily
- afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way - fear of heights and the frailty and vulnerability of the elderly
-almond tree blossoms - reference to white or gray hair
-grasshopper drags itself along - represents stiffness and slowness in movement -desire fails - indicates loss of physical passions or appetites
Verse 5 concludes with the final journey to one’s "eternal home," signaling death is near.
If we wait until we are older to serve God, we may find ourselves burdened by regrets or unable to fully engage in His work. But by committing ourselves to God, we prepare our hearts for the challenges ahead and build a foundation that will sustain us throughout our lives. The Preacher is urging us not to wait until it's too late to serve God with all our hearts.
Let’s explore why it’s so important to dedicate ourselves to God while we are young. B. The importance of early devotion.
Why now? Why not later in life?
The habits we form early in life are often the ones that stick. When a person devotes themselves to God early, they develop spiritual disciplines like prayer, Bible study, worship, and service. These habits become ingrained and are easier to maintain throughout life, bringing consistent growth and closeness to God.
Strong Foundation
Devoting oneself to God early in life establishes a foundation of faith and values that shapes the rest of a person’s life. Just as a building needs a solid foundation to stand strong, a person’s life needs spiritual grounding in God’s Word and truth. This foundation can guide young people to establish spiritual habits, such as prayer, bible studies, worship and service that lasts a lifetime.
Early devotion helps a person avoid sinful behaviors and harmful patterns that could lead to regret later in life. Choosing to live for God early keeps a person from wasting their youth on things that seem pleasurable in the moment but result in lasting damage, whether it’s emotional, relational, or spiritual.
Proverbs 22:6 echoes this, saying, "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it."
Protection Against Temptations
It will also protect them against temptations. Young people face countless temptations - temptations to sin, to compromise, to live for the pleasures of this world. A deep, early relationship with Jesus provides spiritual strength and discernment to resist sinful paths.
2 Timothy 2:22
22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
Early devotion helps a person avoid sinful behaviors and harmful patterns that could lead to regret later in life. Many older believers reflect on youthful years with regret, wishing they had followed Christ sooner.
Guidance and Wisdom in Life’s Decisions
Youth is a time of major decisions—career, relationships, and personal identity. Early devotion to God provides access to His wisdom and guidance in navigating these critical choices.
James 1:5
5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
It assures believers that God will give wisdom to those who ask Him, helping them make decisions that align with His will and lead to a fulfilling life.
Maximizing Impact for God's Kingdom
Youthfulness often comes with energy, time, and potential. Early devotion allows a person to maximize their time serving God and making a difference in His kingdom. Rather than waiting until later in life, a young person who is devoted to God can use their gifts and talents for His glory from the beginning, leading a purposeful and impactful life.
1 Timothy 4:12
12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
Seek God now, while your strength and abilities are intact. Use your talents and energy to build something eternal, rather than waiting until your physical limitations set in. The Preacher teaches us that the best time to dedicate ourselves to God is now, especially when we are young and full of energy. Delaying means missing out on the opportunity to serve Him with the fullness of our lives. As we grow older and our bodies weaken, it becomes harder to give God our all.
In summary, early devotion to God sets a person on the right course for life. It helps them avoid unnecessary regrets and allows them to live a life that honors God and fulfills their
potential. Choosing to live for God early keeps a person from wasting their youth on things that seem pleasurable in the moment but result in lasting damage.
III. Focus on Eternal: Life is Short (Ecclesiastes 12:6-8)
In these verses, The Preacher describes the finality of life and the futility of seeking lasting meaning apart from God. The certainty of aging, death, and the ultimate vanity of life serve as a call to remember our Creator and to focus on what truly matters.
These images remind us that no matter how hard we try to cling to youth or maintain health, death is inevitable. Old age is marked by the body’s increasing frailty, and eventually, we return to the dust from which we were made.
(v.7) and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
This is the reverse of the creation account in Genesis 2:7, where God forms man from the dust of the earth and breathes life into him. It calls us to acknowledge that life on earth is temporary and fleeting. Our physical bodies will die, but our spirit returns to God. This points to the reality of judgment, where each person must give an account for how they lived. This is an invitation to reflect on how we live our lives, knowing that we will one day stand before our Creator.
Are you investing in eternal things or clinging to the temporary? As we grow older, it becomes clearer that our physical lives are finite, and this reality should not discourage us but motivate us to live with an eternal perspective. Are you preparing for that day?
(v.8) "Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity."
Remember when we started this sermon series. Ecclesiastes 1:2 “Vanity[a] of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.”
Ecclesiastes 12:8 repeats the theme. It summarizes the reflection of Solomon that despite all the pleasures, accomplishments, and knowledge that one can acquire, life without God is empty.
Here is a conclusion of Warren Wiersbe from his Book of Ecclesiastes expository:
If death really ends all, then life is not worth living, and everything truly is “vanity” and emptiness. But 1 Cor. 15 makes it clear that death is not the end. Because Christ arose from the dead, we shall also be raised. And the glory and reward we enjoy in eternity will depend on the lives we lived here on earth. Therefore, our labor is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:57-58
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Consider the priorities of your life. Are you seeking fulfillment in things that will pass away, or are you rooted in God, who gives true meaning? The world offers many distractions, but only God offers a life that endures beyond the grave.
As we close, let’s remember that no matter where we find ourselves in life, whether we are in our youth, mid-life or in old age, God is there with us.
The message of Ecclesiastes is clear. Life without God is meaningless. Solomon had it all, money, power, wisdom. Towards the end, he concluded that they’re all meaningless. Like chasing after the wind, a futile pursuit of the insubstantial. But when we remember our Creator and live in a relationship with Him, we find true and lasting joy. We discover the purpose for which we were created, and we find the satisfaction that our hearts long for.
Charles Spurgeon said:
"Remember your Creator. The path of life leads us back to Him, the source of all joy, meaning, and purpose."
So, let’s not forget to invite Him into every part of our lives. Let’s remember to seek his wisdom, to lean on His strength, and delight in His love. Because life without God is meaningless, but life with God is full of purpose and hope.
Bro. Oliver Conti / October 20, 2024
