Living with Purpose - 13
Studies in the book of Ecclesiastes - Chapter 12
We arrive now at chapter 12 of the book of Ecclesiastes. This is the last chapter of the book, and the last part of the Teacher’s four sermons. Solomon is concerned about the meaninglessness of life that so many acknowledge. As the Teacher he teaches us the way to find meaning and purpose. You are never too young to learn these lessons. In fact, the younger you are when you get hold of the wisdom God gives, the more satisfying the rest of your life will be. Some think that God and the Bible are only for older people. God is concerned about young people too. Here in chapter 12 he talks to teenagers. Verse 1 says, "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth". Teenager, God has got something important to say to you!
Why should you remember God in your youth? Firstly, because youthful days are the best days to seek God. These are days when your conscience is tender. As years go by the voice of conscience can grow dim if you keep rejecting its voice. So while that inner "voice" reminds you that God exists, yield to it and seek the God who is there. He can be found through faith in Jesus Christ. Youthful days are days when your heart is supple. Teenage years are formative years. You are finding your own identity. You are looking for someone, or something to identify with. Your heart is receptive to anything. So listen to the call of Jesus to follow Him. There is no better role model for teenagers to have. In your teenage years your mind is impressionable. You are open to all sorts of influences. The trials of life are few. Bitterness hasn't gripped your mind. Receive the teaching of the Bible now and let its powerful message shape your convictions and outlook on life. Its words will save you from many heartaches. Youthful days are days when you are likely to make errors of judgement. The world looks attractive. You are inclined to look there because it appears on the surface to offer all you are looking for. It is a bubble ready to burst. It is a mirage that will leave you dry and empty. Jesus said in John 4 verse 13, "Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. " Jesus holds out to you forgiveness and total satisfaction. You should seek God now in your early years simply because He has given you your existence. Solomon says God is your creator. You are in debt to Him for all you are and have! Thank Him for it. Seek his salvation. Serve Him out of love and thankfulness. The great Creator has become your Saviour. So you are doubly indebted to Him, and to his love and grace.
Secondly, youthful days are the best days to seek God because they will not last forever. In that first verse we read, "Before the days of trouble come. " God shows you in this chapter the effects the passing of time has on you. Old age creeps upon us as youthful days draw to an end. God does not demean old age in this passage. William Phelps once said, "I know of no fallacy greater than the statement that youth is the happiest time of life. As we advance in years we really grow happier if we live intelligently. To live abundantly is like climbing a mountain or a tower. To say youth is happier than maturity is like saying the view from the bottom of the tower is better than the view from the top. As we ascend the range of our view widens immensely. " That is true, but difficult days do come. What happens? Verse 2 says, "The sun and the light grow dark”. Days of warmth and sunshine are over. Verse 3 says, "The keepers of the house tremble, and strong men stoop. " Physical weakness increases. The "keepers" are our arms and legs which lose strength. We read, "the grinders cease because they are few". In other words we lose our teeth! Verse 3 ends by saying. "those looking through the windows grow dim". Our eyesight deteriorates. Verse 4 says, "men rise up at the sound of a bird". You don't sleep as long and wake up at the slightest noise. Also says verse 4, "their songs grow faint". Your hearing isn't what it was in earlier years. We read in verse 5, "When the almond tree blossoms". That's a reference to the time when your hair goes grey! It all ends in death. Verse 5 says, "Then man goes to his eternal home. "
In verses 6 and 7, Solomon speaks of death. He says, "Remember Him - before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken - and the dust returns to the ground it came from. " Solomon had a light in a golden bowl in his room suspended by a silver cord. One day it snapped. The bowl fell to the ground and the light went out. The day is coming, after old age has done its work, that the light of your life will be switched off. It will be gone. Remember Him now in your early years. You are not promised tomorrow. Whether sooner or later you will leave this world.
God is the only one who can meet your deepest need now for forgiveness, salvation, meaning, and the assurance of life hereafter. You have an eternal soul. It is a poor bargain to neglect it for the sake of this world's so called pleasures which do not last. Jesus said in Matthew 16 verse 26, "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? " Think carefully about the far-reaching implications of the choices you make in your teenage years.
Lastly, youthful days will be judged. Verse 14 says, "God will bring every deed into judgement, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. " God has given you the freedom to choose, but you will have to give an account to God one day for the choices you made. That is a sobering thought. Enough to get you to change your lifestyle in favour of following Jesus Christ.
Solomon has taught us much about life in this book. He says in verse 10, "The Teacher searched to find the right words, and what he wrote is upright and true. " He gives the conclusion of the whole matter. He says in verse 13, "Fear God and keep his commandments for this is the whole duty of man. " That is the key to living with purpose. Make that your main goal and life will be full of meaning every day of your life. God bless you as you do.