REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR IN THE DAYS OF YOUR YOUTH

Ecclesiastes 12:1

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”—

So often people think serving God is something to do when you are older and more serious about life. However, this scripture reminds us to remember our Creator in the days of our Youth. This means we need to seek God early in our lives.  To truly seek God, you need to firstly have an encounter with the creator by being saved from eternal condemnation caused by sin – be born again.   An acknowledgement of that you were born a sinner but through faith in Jesus Christ who died and rose again, you are justified.

1. Your Creator and the days of our lives
2. Who is our Creator?

The Creator is God, our heavenly father who brings something out of nothing. In Genesis, we see the foundations of creation by God who made the heavens and earth and on the sixth day made man (Genesis 1:27). Since then God set a pattern in life of fruitfulness within His creation. His creative work did not stop in creation but continues to this day.

Psalm 139:13-14

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;your works are wonderful,I know that full well.

• The days of our Youth

The days of Youth have significant meanings.

• Time

The days of youth represent the importance of serving God when you still have time. Being young is associated with having an abundance of time to live and a future ahead. The scripture reminds us to serve God when we you have this abundance of time to do so.

Psalm 90:12

So teach us to number our days that we may present to you a heart of wisdom.

As a young person, often your basic needs are the responsibility of your parents and most of your responsibilities in life are limited compared to when you are grown up.  This means your younger days are the best to start serving God and getting your relationship with God strengthen by reading His word, prayer, witnessing, and serving Him wherever there is a need.

So often, young people use the gift of time to get involved in sin, which separates them from God. With the available time comes numerous distractions, which seek to attract and destroy the lives of young people. Young people’s time is so often spent on various things such as alcohol, drugs, unrighteous relationships and other time wasters such as television, games, social media platforms etc. Some timewasters may not be sinful when used appropriately, but when used excessively they may become addictive and destructive. I Corinthians 15:33 says, Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” The company you keep does not refer to other people only, but also who and what you spend your time doing.

Everyone, will have to give an account to God on how they used the time God gave them on this earth, hence our focus must be dedicated to our Creator who created us for a purpose of serving and living for Him. As a young person it is of outmost importance that you redeem the time, use it wisely (Ephesians 5: 15-16) and invest in your relationship with God.

• Strength and vigour

The days of youth signify strength and vigour. During this time as a young person you are energetic, lively, healthy and fit, growing, vibrant and quite often willing to take risks. These characteristics can be a blessing but can also be a curse if not applied wisely. God has blessed young people with the strength and energy to serve Him and do His will. In the bible we see several examples of Young people who served God and did mighty things for God in their Youth e.g. Joseph (Genesis 41:37-44), Samuel (I Samuel 3:1; 19), David (I Samuel 17: 42-47), Josiah (2 Kings 22:1-2).

However, sadly we also often see people who waste the blessing of youth by living in sin, rebellion and unrighteous living. We see an encouragement  from Paul to young Timothy, he instructs him to be an example in living for God even though he is Young; let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

Instead of seeking out the pleasures of this world, we are called to rather pursue righteousness faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart (II Timothy 2:22)

• Teachable and learning years

The days of your Youth represent the time at which you can learn and be moulded in a Godly manner. You know the old saying, “you cannot teach an old dog new tricks?” As people grow they get set in their ways and it gets difficult for them to be taught news skills or behaviour. As a young believer, it is important to avail yourself for the impartation of the word of God and for discipleship from a young age. When you are older, that investment in your life will continually bear fruits which will be a blessing upon your life.

Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should got, And when he is old he will not depart from it

Psalms 119:9

How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.

When we invest in knowing God through learning His word, we are able to stay on the path that leads to life.

• Days of our trouble

The days of trouble refers to difficult days, many scholars agree that this means difficulty that comes with old age.  

When Solomon says, 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”. Essentially before it’s too late to do so! This is a good contrast to what youth signifies. The days of trouble refers to that as you age and grow older as a person you will possess less strength and vigor to do things as you used to. If you continue reading Ecclesiastes 12:2-6, the scripture continues to describe the difficult days and years.

I quite often listen to people who are older than me, they often say they are struggling with demands on their time because of various responsibilities (health, work, family, church, community etc.) and they also talk about that they are realising that they are not able to physically do the things they used to be able to do easily when they were younger. When we hear people say these things in general conversations in life, we can begin to understand what Solomon was referring to here in this scripture.

But if you are an “old person” and you are reading this, please don’t feel like getting old is the end of life. Your older years do not have to be full of displeasure, because God can rejuvenate you and help you. Like Caleb, after having walked with the Lord and he had inherited Hebron he mentioned powerful words of encouragement for any old person.

Joshua  14:10-11

Now behold, as the LORD promised, He has kept me alive these forty-five years since He spoke this word to Moses, while Israel wandered in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old, 11still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out. As my strength was then, so it is now for war, for going out, and for coming in.

I life with God is a wonderful experience, whether young or old!

• The blessing of living for God from your Youth

• Seeing God’s hand of deliverance and God’s promises fulfilled

When you serve God from a young age, you are able to see the power and strength of God to act in your life.  Psalm 91 when you dwell in the shelter of the most high He will indeed be your refuge. As you navigate through life and deal with different challenges, He will see you through. As you draw closer to God He promises to draw closer to you.

Psalm 138:7

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me.

When you stick with God long term, you will see His promises for your life happen when you remain faithful to His word.

• Preserved and divinely protected life

When you serve God from a young age, He gives you wisdom and discernment to turn from sin and make wise choices which will preserve your life. When you are born again God give you’re His Holy Spirit and as you live you will see the fruits of the Spirit in your life.  You will have clear convictions about what is wrong and right which will be a blessing to your life. When other young people pressure you into sin, you will be able to stand and conquer.

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

• A life that counts

If you want to live a life with impact, serving God from your youth is the best decision you can ever made. A life without God is a wasted life… serve God when you have time and the opportunity to do so. This is not a decision you can regret but will cherish for the rest of your life.

Colossians 1:10

so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

Kind regards,

Muedanyi Ramantswana