REMEMBER

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

In the course of Reflections, you must REMEMBER, and especially, “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth” (Eccl.12:1). To remember is more than casual recollection. When the Israelites were groaning in slavery, God “remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob” (Exo.2:24). He then acted in the interest of His people to deliver them. When the dying thief pleaded with Jesus on the cross to remember him, he wanted Jesus to act in his best interest when He had the power to do so (Lk.23:42). Therefore, to truly remember someone is to act in the person’s best interest.

The world may say, “Youth for pleasure, middle age for business, old age for religion.” The Bible says, “Youth, middle age, and old age – all of your life for your Creator.” However, because it’s in the youthful years that we are most inclined to forget our Creator, it’s especially in this phase of life that we must actively endeavour to remember our Creator. Remember that God made you, He cares for you, He provides for you, He watches you, and He directs you; and remember that He came to save you too. The years of youth include: the dynamic, sensitive, teachable, and dangerous years.

Dynamic years: God commands us to remember Him in youthful years because these are our most dynamic and energetic years. Why wait until we are pegging out or running down, until our gas is almost empty, before serving our Creator? The God who made us deserves our most active and healthy years: while bodies are still strong, minds sharp, senses clear, keen, receptive, and sensitive, enthusiasm bright, and wills firm and determined. Remember God in your active years.

Receptive years: Youthful years are receptive years. This perhaps explains why more people become Christians in their youth than in middle or old age. With increasing age come hearts hardened thicker, consciences seared number, and sins rooted deeper. Let’s use our youthful sensitivity to remember our Creator before the evil days of callous apathy set in.

Teachable years: We learn more in our youth than in any other period of life. That’s true in all subjects, but especially in spiritual instruction. Christians who were converted to Christ late in life often expressed huge regrets about how little they know and how little they can now learn. They feel they have to study twice as hard to learn half as well. Value and use whatever time the Lord gives you!

Hazardous years: the years of youth are dangerous, daring, ‘minefield’ years; what with a great array of temptations – alcohol, drugs, hot hormones, peer pressure, pornography, immorality, and a vibrant testosterone. Few navigate these years without blowing up here and there. Dangers abound on every side and on the inside. Some “first” temptations become “last” temptations! Indeed, we need our Creator to keep us and carry us through this minefield and battlefield of great hazards.

Here are few nuggets of Wisdom to reflect on in remembering your Creator all through the years of life:

• Be persuaded that you have a Creator and get well established in acknowledging His reality.
• Make peace with your Creator through His Son – the Lord Jesus Christ – the Redeemer or humanity.
• Get to know your Creator: study His Word and His world through His Book and good products that derive from His Book.
• Relate with your Creator’s friends: Build friendships with other creatures who love, remember, and respect their Creator.
• Walk with your Creator: follow His Will, His ways, His order, and instructions on all matters of life and destiny.

We must please God while we can, while the light is still shining. The darkness is coming when no man can work. It is never too early to start. However, if you’ve passed your youthful years, there is yet hope, because compared to the eons of eternity you are still in your “youth.” It’s not too late to remember your Creator, before the evil days come even nearer.