“Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them"--before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain; when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim; when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades; when men rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint; when men are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags himself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then man goes to his eternal home and mourners go about the streets.
Remember him-- before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the wheel broken at the well, and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
"Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Everything is meaningless!"”.
Remember your Creator in the days of your youth...It is a message from an older Solomon that started on the right track but veered from it. He wished he could relive some of those days when the lusts of this world were unfortunately more important than making God center of his life. As people grow older there are many regrets. One is the regret of not accepted Christ as Savior earlier in life. Many have told me that life was wasted without the Lord. Others recognize later in life the misplaced priorities and sin that caused heartache from which they were blind at the time.
Application: Keep God first. We so easily forget Him in the daily activities of life. God is our creator. He made us for Himself, for His pleasure, and we find purpose in our life when we fulfill the reason for His creating us in the first place.
Solomon cursed his inability to do what he really wanted to do. The curse of old age is preventing him from that.
Look at how graphic and almost humorous Solomon portrays the aging process. The keepers of the house tremble and strong men stoop. Our hands get shaky and weak and we can't take care of this old house or body anymore.
The Bible says, "Remember God before death, while you are vigorous and full of energy and have a sharp sense and quick mind. Remember God when you can enjoy Him to your fullest and enjoy the life He has planned for you. Remember your creator before the evil days come and we can't do what we want to do for God any longer.
Prayer: Lord God, I want You to be first in my life. Be the center of my life.
