Ecclesiastes 12:1
“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh…”
Ecclesiastes 12 begins with a direct instruction to the young: “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.” The Teacher has spent much of Ecclesiastes examining life, pleasure, work, achievement and the passing of time. As the book approaches its conclusion, his message becomes urgent: don’t wait until you are older to take God seriously.
Remember Him now.
In Scripture, remembering God means more than simply knowing that He exists. It means living with an awareness of who He is and allowing that truth to shape the way you live.
Young men, there will be many voices telling you that you have plenty of time. Enjoy yourself now. Become serious about God later. Pray later. Serve later. Change later. But Ecclesiastes says, remember your Creator while you are young. Build your relationship with God before habits become deeply established and years begin passing faster than you expected.
But older men, this message belongs to us too.
It is possible to remember God in our youth and gradually forget Him in the busyness of adulthood. Careers grow. Families require attention. Responsibilities increase. Success can make us self-sufficient, and disappointment can make us distant.
Ecclesiastes eventually concludes: “Fear God, and keep his commandments.” Whether you are fifteen or fifty, life is moving quickly, and every season should be lived with God at the centre.
Boys, don’t wait until you become men to pursue God.
Men, don’t become so occupied with life that you forget the God who gave it to you.
Remember your Creator when you are young. Remember Him when you are older. Remember Him in every season—and don’t forget Him when life changes.
God bless you, Men of God. Continue in your roar.