Series- BEEN THERE- DONE THAT- NOW WHAT? 18- …

Series- BEEN THERE- DONE THAT- NOW WHAT? 18- "SOLOMON'S GREATEST WISDOM YETREMEMBER NOW THY CREATOR" Ecclesiastes 12:1-12

Intro- King Solomon was known for his wisdom. People came from all over the world to hear the Wisdom of Solomon. He wrote a book filled with wisdom called the book of Proverbs. A proverb is an earthly statement with a heavenly meaning. While Solomon ruled from his throne he displayed great wisdom.

Here in chapter 12, Solomon the Preacher is winding down his message. He is about to make one of the wisest statements ever made in all the Bible. He makes a passionate plea to young people. He pleads with them to "remember now thy creator in the days of thy youth."

In the New Testament Jesus put it like this... Matthew 6:33 33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

In the first 12 verses Solomon gives three reasons why it is important to remember God now! 1- BECAUSE YOUR YOUTH IS FLEEING 2- BECAUSE YOUR HEALTH IS FAILING 3- BECAUSE YOUR DEATH IS COMING

I wonder if Solomon was watching children playing in the courtyard when he picked up his pen and wrote verse 1 and 2. I wonder if Solomon saw what we often see; that is children in a hurry to grow up.

Solomon knew the importance of reaching and teaching children while they are young! That's why he wrote:

Proverbs 22:6 6Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

ILL- (I read that) Leaders in training at West Point begin their freshman year with a rather small vocabulary. The Freshmen are called Plebes. They answer questions from their superiors in only four ways: "Yes, sir" and "No, sir"; "No excuse, sir; and "Sir, I don't understand."

"Yes, sir" and "No, sir, teach the value of being direct. "No excuse, sir" makes sure they learn to think in terms of teamwork and success. "Sir, I don't understand" impresses cadets with the importance of making sure instructions and expectations are crystal clear. It is a rather limited vocabulary but it works and has worked for nearly two centuries. (1)

(It is possible to train up a child in the way he should go! It just takes commitment and compassion; longsuffering and patience!)

I. REMEMBER GOD NOW BECAUSE YOUR YOUTH IS FLEEING- (Vs.1) ILL- Dr. Benjamin Mays, a great Christian educator and president of Morehouse College wrote a classic poem entitled, "Life Is Just a Minute." Life is just a minute- only sixty seconds in it. Forced upon- can't refuse it. Didn't seek it- didn't choose it. But it's up to you to use it. You must suffer if you lose it. Give an account if you abuse it. Just a tiny, little minute- But eternity is in it. (2)

A. THE SWIFTNESS OF LIFE- "Remember now" ILL- Growing up takes forever but growing old takes a second! You're 9 then 10 then 11, then 12 then you're 12, then you're 12, then you're 12, then you're 12, Finally you're 13 then you're 14, then your 15, then you're 15, then you're 15.........15.......15......15.......FINALLY you're 16.....then you're 17, then you're 17.....17....17...Finally you're 18 (whooo weee legal age...you can vote now) then you're 19, then 20 then...20 then...20...Finally 21! Then You're 37 BAM and you're getting OLD.

The book of JOB describes the swiftness of life. Job 14:1-4 1Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. 2He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

The book of JAMES describes the swiftness of life James 4:14 14Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

"REMEMBER GOD NOW" why? Because Life is short! "Remember now" as if to say get with God now before it's too late! Get with God now, because the longer you wait, the less likely you will serve Him.

REMEMBER GOD NOW... BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!

Solomon knew all too well the dangers and disappointments of living your life without thinking of God! Without including God in your plans!

At the opening of the book, Solomon set out on his journey to find out what made life tick under the sun? 1- HE TRIED LEARNING (1:13) - but this left him empty! 2- HE TRIED LAUGHTER (2:2) ? but this too was vain! 3- HE TRIED WINE (2:3) ? but he knew the dangers of getting drunk with wine!

4- HE TRIED LUXURY (2:4-8) ? he indulged in houses and vineyards; swimming pools and servants but he quickly found out things and material possessions lose their luster!

B. THE SERIOUSNESS OF LIFE- "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth" (He is saying you're not going to be young forever!)

Solomon is bringing us into accountability with God. He reminds us who gave us life! Can you hear the intensity in Solomon's voice? "Don't make the same mistakes I made!" "Don't waste your life!" "Don't think it's okay to live it up while you're young and then live for God when you're old!"

"while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;"

Charles Spurgeon said, "Youthful sins lay a foundation for aged sorrow." Pastor Johnny Hunt said: "The best way to have a happy adult life later is to get a good start on life now!"

Solomon is advising Living for God now will reap benefits down the road. But living reckless now will come back to haunt you in the near future! Because not only: #1- Your Youth is Fleeing... but REMEMBER GOD NOW BECAUSE:

II. YOUR HEALTH IS FAILING- (Vs. 2-5) ILL- I thought about that older couple in Florida who wanted to get married. The groom-to-be was 92, and the bride-to-be was 89. They passed a drugstore, one day, and decided to go in and look around. The groom-to-be said to the man behind the counter, "We're getting married. Do you sell heart medication?" The man said, "Of course." The questions continued, "How about medication for circulation, rheumatism, scoliosis, memory, arthritis and jaundice?" The salesman answered, "Absolutely! We sell them all."

The groom continued, "Do you sell vitamins, sleeping pills, Geritol?" Again the answer was 'yes.' He asked, "What about wheelchairs, canes and walkers?" The salesman said, "All speeds and sizes." The groom-to-be look back and said, "Great! We'd like to use this store as our bridal registry!" (Hey Listen! Our Health is going to begin to fail us!)

I turned 40 this year and I'm beginning to see there are more and more break downs in my body...

I was talking to an older man at the gym. While we were talking we noticed a make-up commercial come on. The cover girl for this make-up was Ellen

DeGeneres... Of all people to advertize make-up... Toolboxes yes! Mud Tires yes! But not make-up!

He said, I remember when my wife used to come to bed smelling like perfume! Now she comes to bed smelling like she just left the locker room with Ben Gay sprayed and slathered all over her aching body!

He said "You know you're getting old when you got on your night stand, Roll Aids and Hearing Aids...Band Aids and all sorts of aids!"

In verse 2 he begins to describe how: A. YOUR MIND WILL BEGIN TO SLIP 2While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: This refers to the fading of our mental capacity as we grow older. Young people are like sponges. They can retain great amounts of information and store endless verses of scripture in their mind. But as we get older, our mind begins to slip telling on our age.

Someone has well said, "Just about the time YOUR FACE clears up, YOUR MIND begins to go!" Solomon describes these mental faculties in terms of light. The mind, with its powers of reasoning and memory begins to fade, like the fading of the light of the sun. That is one of the first marks of old age. They say there are three things that indicate the onset of old age: the first is losing the memory, and I can't remember what the other two are! First the Mind will begin to slip! (Hello! Is anybody home?) In verses 3-5 Solomon describes how: B. YOUR MUSCLES WILL BEGIN TO SLIP "[3] In the day when the keepers of the house (house referring to our body) 2 Corinthians 5:1 1For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands,

eternal in the heavens.

"[3] In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, [4] And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low. [5] Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: [6] Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern."

Solomon is painting a picture of a house that is falling apart and finally turns to dust. He is describing our earthly bodies!

The "keepers of the house shall tremble" speaks of our arms and hands trembling.

"Strong men" refers to legs, knees and shoulders.

"Grinders" refer to one losing their teeth.

"Windows darkened" speaks of eyes losing their vision.

"The daughters of music...brought low" describes a voice that begins to weaken.

The "almond tree" speaks of hair that is turning white. (I remember my Pastor when he preached from this text. He described the snow that begins to fall on a mountain. It first begins to collect around the sides. Then it's not long before the whole mountain is covered in snow!) I've noticed the snow setting in rapidly around my head...!

The "grasshopper" is a picture of one just dragging themselves along.

The "desire that shall fail" can be left up to your imagination. But I will say that the drug store has a whole line of pharmaceuticals to help your desire!

Once this process runs its course, he says in verse 7, "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it."

REMEMBER GOD NOW BECAUSE: III. YOUR DEATH IS COMING Ecclesiastes 12:5-7 "...because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: 6Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.7Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Solomon with perhaps his greatest nugget of wisdom yet says, "remember thy creator now." Because from the moment of our birth...slowly but surely our bodies begin a course that leads to death.

His final advice is REMEMBER NOW... BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE! REMEMBER GOD NOW... WHILE THERE IS STILL TIME!

Conclusion- Have you remembered thy creator...? In today's terms he would say, "Get involved in Church while you are young!"

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