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April 20, 2021 12:00 am
Old age is arriving with diverse problems, but can I just add that old age is also arriving with divine promise like this one from Isaiah the prophet God says this. You have been carried by me from birth even to your old age. I will be the same even to your grading years. I will carry you I have done it.
I bear you and I will carry you and I say but don't turn this off if you're young because he has a message for you as well.
All of us are moving toward death and life seems awfully short but God wants us to live wisely. No matter how much time we have left on this earth.
Death is not final death is actually an awakening for the believer, in light of that fact. We should live well and live with eternity in mind working to explore this today here on wisdom for the heart. Stephen David is a message for you called before the final start of the last chapter as Solomon begins to write his closing comments for the sake of our exposition divided his inspired cabinets into a threefold warning will cover eight verses today remaining in our next session. The first morning is especially for young people. He sorta carries it over from Chapter 11.
If you are with us here is remember your creator so that you don't become misguided in your youth. Remember your creator so that you don't become misguided in your youth. I'm reading from Ecclesiastes chapter 12 and verse one.
Remember, also, your creator in the days of your youth before the evil days, and the years draws near, of what you will say I have no pleasure in them now again Solomon as he's been doing throughout his private journal sorta tips his quill of the ink of realism.
He's going out the truth for us today, and the truth is the older you get, the more difficult life becomes. Those clouds just kinda come in and will describe a little bit further what he means you have added responsibilities yet added challenges you headaches and pains and constrains bills, limitations, there's a lot of there's a lot about getting old that takes courage and again not one amen from this audience.
Either must we be identified as the elderly white author. I've enjoyed reading must've been writing his commentary around Christmastime and he evidently seen one too many department store Santa clause and he wrote with humor that it occurred to him that life comes in four stages in the first day you believe there is a Santa Claus in the second stage you don't believe there's a Santa Claus in the third stage, you realize that you are Santa Claus and in the fourth stage, you start looking like Santa Claus and a young person would say that will never happen to me. I'll never look like you old geezer's well thank you very much and that you have the world in front of them and by the way, Solomon isn't necessarily sizing that here anyways, not stressing for the use remember the fact that your God get all know what is he say.
Remember you are creator, it will never be easy for you to remember your creator in a world that suppresses the truth of him that doesn't want to hear his word doesn't want to hear about him that comes up with all sorts of theories of origins to do away with him that persistently refuses to give him honor and thanks for having created all that he did. Romans chapter 1 verse 21 we think about the fact that the apostle Paul said mankind will suppress the truth of creation, and he wrote that 1900 years ago is no wonder I mean if the knowledge of the creator is foundational in the life of a young person is just beginning. No wonder the enemy of God would want a prime all are you with the propaganda of evolution. There is no creator.
You have no creator the universe as a result of random chance you're just a highly skilled animal. Your your life is the result of gene mutation probably seated by aliens creator your life that is nonaccountable to at the animals do. Your life is all up to whatever you want to make of it is the worst advice possible.
The last thing Satan in the world system.
Whatever one you or anyone to hear is the words of God the son without me you can do nothing which is of lasting value. Remember your creator so that you don't become misguided in your youth. There's another warning. Remember your creator so that you don't become miserable in your old age laid the foundation so the now is an old man.
Solomon is a real Estes repented his come back to God.
He realizes that that with a boatload of difficulties and challenges and limitations effect what is now for the next several verses it it's actually one sentence in the real language one sentence he's going to politely describe what it means to get all his quill back in the realism and is gonna describe the universe to he writes before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are dark and in the clouds return after the rain is remember your creator before the light started to go out in this context it seems indicate perhaps a sad countenance. Some believe that can overcome an old person. She sorta saw the clouds coming clouds move enough of life bears down the struggle, the idea of the sun, the light reflecting stars. Scholars believe it is a reference to clarity that lightbulb that to us even to this day represents the mind.
While it starts to dim and without of course, comes the modeling of the mind then and the memory, the memory is is fading. One author wrote with some humor about the loss of memory. He said you know about the time your complexion finally clears up your memory begins to go. Maybe you there right now, but you can't remember if you are or not.
Just say with. I recently read one of the offices researching this story got some 35-year-old college friend Zygmunt college to maintain a friendship. They decided to reunite every 15 years, to stay in touch. Mel lived in the same town and for their first reunion. When they met one other aunt they decided to go eat at the glowing embers restaurant because it was conveniently located in the all agree 15 years later at the age of 50. They met and discussed where to go eat. They decide to go the glowing embers restaurant because they like the menu. 15 years later at 65 years of age and then discuss where to go if they decided on the glowing embers restaurant because it's quiet relaxing. They all agree 15 years later the ages of 80. They met discuss where to go eat and they decided to eat of the glowing embers restaurant because it never eaten there before and they all agreed.
Solomon writes that old age can be metaphorically described in verse three in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strongman are been keepers of the house reference to the hands now shake and tremble hands and arms are used to defend the house are beginning to bend trim. He writes further verse three. All the grinders cease because they are are few grinders are your teeth. Of course, even with the best of dental care. Your original teeth are now few and far between. You come a long way from your childhood were used to get so excited about losing that easy money under your pillow because of that. Now you're paying dearly yourself. He writes here about looking through dim windows. This reference poetically to a blurred vision. You just can't see clearly anymore. I remember the age of 40. Stepping into the pulpit and introducing myself in a brand-new way because I had bring for the first time with me a pair of glasses and I told the congregation that diving turned 40, I was in need, and I told him then and so it's funny to me now, but I remember I just couldn't couldn't read as well as a similar arena. I knew there was a problem had to be a problem and 39 1/2 almost 40 and so I went to the optometrist. The doctor and he told me Stephen you problem is getting old.
So I changed doctors I got a pair of glasses and then you have that moment.
Perhaps when the doctor says you need bifocals. Try phone calls. Solomon writes again with realism, though poetically in verse four and the doors on the street are shocked with the sound of the grinding is low. More than likely a reference to hearing problems.
The years pictured as doors or shutting as if they were gates to city and the sounds of that.
How grinding mill that a lumberman matches the low home that clearly are is another description of the levers for the latter part of one rises up at the sound of a bird when the daughters of song.
He writes are brought low daughters. Perhaps a reference to all of those things that work together to allow you to sing from vocal cords to lung stew to diaphragm all that used to work together to allow you to sing and now it just kinda quivers and quakes and you can't give a strong enough breath to hold that note, you don't sing.
Then, as loudly as he used to. You probably shouldn't sing as loudly as you use to. I like it. You know there there's a there's a I can hear myself, do you hear yourself usually all know now you just kind all over it. As you hang onto it with his talking about all conspired to allow you to sing begins to conspire against you. Verse five.
They are afraid of what is high and terrorists are in the way bones are brittle old-age heels slower the fear of breaking something is now much more important to Garnsey. You can avoid the heights you're afraid of what is high tall ladder. You should you be careful and ascend the stairs going up for her downing a watch out for for curbs writing for us in this generation to be driving at night terrors are in the way is just more more difficult getting old. As I said takes courage. Verse five the almond tree blossoms the almond tree blossoms in the late winter begins with a reddish color and then it turns white, sick, clear, beautiful poetic reference that auburn hair turning gray in the winter of life. He writes the grasshopper here drags itself along loses that youthful ability.
Somewhere along the line you realize you don't jump anymore to see if we have a bird backs.
He refers here to the loss of desire to Solomon here is colorfully unrealistically describing the winding down of the body. So remember your creator all the way back there in the days of your use in outward start building that foundation of truth and trust in him because he wants you to enjoy not only your you, but all your years as you build on that foundation of truth and trust in his creative plan for your life.
But how life changes old-age is arriving with diverse problems, but can I just add before we go any further that old age is also arriving with divine promise like this one from Isaiah the prophet, God is speaking to the nation Israel, but he delivers the same truth to every believer. God says this. You have been carried by me from birth and have been carried from the womb, even to your old age. I will be the same joy that even to your grading years. I will carry you I I bear you and I will carry you and I will save you man is a great promise. Just as we sang earlier, God of the ages, let me hide myself in you without surrender comes fulfillment and peace and security, and joy. The matter where you are in your years.
God is in control. Make the most out of your use and make the most out of your old age.
The way you do that is to remember your creator. Don't forget your creator God's word tells you your creator is going to forget you. Solomon now shifts to the final scenes of life to get a couple other verses here under our belt. He describes a funeral procession.
The last part of verse five says man is going to his eternal home and the mourners go about the streets, mourners were professionals that was an occupation. This tells us the funeral taken place throughout the street lamenting the death of the individual he's been describing, and now what Solomon does is provide some poetic descriptions of that final moment. That sudden movement even though you know it's just been kinda creeping along it happens suddenly he says in verse six before your creator, the context before the silver cord is snapped or the golden bowl is broken. Here the golden bowl is a lamp hanging from the ceiling by a silver chain. The chain suddenly breaks in the light of life is broken. By the way Solomon is describing rather expensive lamp, perhaps to hint that that death is no respecter of person that matter. He had a little like ball or a golden lamp it's coming noticed. Further, the water pitcher.
It's filled with with water, but it shattered the fountain the wheel that pulls up the water breaks water in the Old Testament is a picture of life you're full of life, but suddenly your heart stops pumping the wheel stops working and suddenly the picture of life is shattered and death suddenly arrives.
What happens at death will now no more metaphors. By the way, no more poetry just the wrong truth.
Verse seven and the dust returns to the earth as it was in the spirit returns to God who gave it created.
God told Adam and Eve is there being exiled from the garden, having sinned against him. He fulfilled for them that promises they began dying. He tells them eventually. You are dust and to dust you shall return.
Genesis 319. Solomon underscores the fact that that isn't the when that picture is shattered when the heart stops pumping. There is an immediate separation of body and spirit. Temporal eternal material and that immaterial part of you, which is the real you just been carried around by this temporal thing called the body and the spirit rings its way to God is for believers second review chapter 5 for those your unbelievers. Luke 16 tells us the spirit immediately goes to a place of torment where the unbeliever will await that final judgment call before the great white throne of God. Solomon essentially issues. Another warning here a waiver of you remember your creator so that you will become misguided in your youth. Remember your creator so that you will become miserable in your old age and now this.
Remember your creator so that you are mistaken at your death.
Life is fleeting is just a breath. James chapter 4 verse 14 says life appears for a little while. This just a vapor vanishes away. Solomon is saying the same thing. Summarizing the brevity of our lives a lot no matter how long we live. Verse eight says vanity of vanities, says the preacher always vanishes out that sound familiar, how you began a journal chapter 1 and verse two same words vanity of vanities is the preacher, all is vanity vanity can can refer to fleeting it can refer to futility it can refer to frustration depending on the context. It can refer to brevity.
That's his idea here it's it's just a breath. It's just a vapor matter how long you live. Eventually you're confronted with the reality that life is fleeting all way with the answer. Solomon is warning us that life is short is just a breath or two between you and dad so remember your creator.
If the answer he gave his life to you so that your life would have meaning became their so you can go to heaven he he he gives your life purpose and meaning to honor him to introduce others to him to serve him and and others to rejoice in all of his good gifts to enjoy the day as he brings it in the way that coming day when you see him face-to-face. When your spirit travels up word and I learned the end of the presence of your creator God. Can you imagine that moment. Can you imagine I think of it often.
That transition those few seconds when your spirit arrives as a believer in heaven from mortal to immortality, as it were for Smitty's 50, but that moment when it dawns on you where you are that that moment when you see him here. I am safe, eternally insecure and you hear her.
The sounds of joy in conversation and laughter at them, assuming it gets louder and louder music of the redeemed singing along with an angelic host see the Lord upon his throne. Perhaps that your first sidedness dazzling brilliance and before his throne, you fall can you imagine the moment for the unbeliever. There really was judgment there really was sin there really was accountability the gospel he heard was true conscience that made me feel guilty was warning me the truth of creation that I rejected it wasn't random accidents. It was divinely created. There really is a create Solomon issues the warning we put it in this terminology. Death is not some final slumbering death is not some final sleeping death is the final awakening I have been at the bedside of individuals taken that last breath of heard testimonies of those who've been with others, but I've seen with my own eyes.
The most remarkable thing that occurs again and again they're lying there.
Their eyes closed unconscious. The machines are pumping away and suddenly their eyes, their eyes caught Casey remembering your creator.
My friends means the you will be misguided in your youth walk with him start now remembering your creator means you will become miserable in your old age she trusted carries you, remembering your creator means you will be mistaken at your death, believe in them to the unbeliever the Bible promises call upon the name of the Lord you what shall be say and that's all that will matter in that day to the believer. The Bible says in first minutes. 15 your labor is not in vain. Just what your life is meaningless. It is vanity. It's God's assignment and what you do is you glorify in the mundane and in the wonderful moments. It is not in vain in the Lord say here's what you do before that final awakening.
Remember your creator because one day everyone will stand before him some judge. Pray for you.
It will be forever last June.
As you listen to this admonition to remember your gator.
The best time to do that right now live this day.
Being mindful of your creator God thanks for joining us today here on wisdom for the hearts the Bible teaching ministry of Stephen Devi and you can learn more about us. If you visit our website wisdom online.org. Once you go there you will be able to access the complete archive of Stephen's Bible teaching ministry. We also post each days broadcasts. So if you ever miss one of these lessons, you can go to our website to keep caught up with our daily Bible teaching ministry. In addition to equipping you with these daily Bible messages. We also have a magazine that includes articles written by Stephen to help you dive deep into various topics related to the Christian life magazine also has a daily devotional guide that you can use to remain grounded in God's word every day.
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