Remember Your Creator

Can I urge you to take heed to the words of the preacher? They are like goads and nails firmly fixed and are given by one Shepherd, Christ Jesus.

The words of the preacher:

Remember also your creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, "I have no pleasure in them." - Ecclesiastes 12:1

This verse has not left me since I heard Alistar Begg preach on it early this year. It made such an impression on me I proceeded to preach the entirety of the chapter on Sunday night when I was invited to preach at a church.

Tonight I was really reflective of this verse as I observed my Dad. I took them to the New Hanover Co. Fair tonight. I had about as much desire to have my foot shot off as I did go to the fair, but I went. My Father has suffered from 3 strokes, two of which the doctors have classified as "major". So to say the least they have affected my Dad. They have completely changed his personality, and have made it difficult to do the things we all dismiss because we do them so much. Watching my Dad has made me thankful to be able to button my pants every morning without difficulty, and be able to get up out of bed. If you can have a steady logical conversation with someone for a steady 10 mins, you've got my Dad beat. The stroke has severely affected his ability to communicate. It was hard for him to even answer the simple 'yes' or 'no' question of "do you want to go look at the animals tonight?"

So if you can button your pants, have a conversation, read, and comprehend what someone is saying to you may I besiege you to listen to the words of the Preacher.

Remember your Creator.
Life for him.
Glorify him.
Tell others about him.
Soak up as much as you can from his word.
Serve the local body as much as you can.

"You were bought with a price, you are not your own, so glorify God with your body." - 1 Corinthians 6:20

Beloved I tell you my Dad is only 48, and had the first two strokes when he was 46. By no means am I saying my Father never remembered his Creator, I'm ever so thankful for my Father and the example he laid before me. Always praying, always. Serving the church in whatever way he could. Going on mission trips. I've learned much about being able to glorify our Creator from my Father. But we are not promised tomorrow, we aren't promised we can do as we please and then one day decide to follow Jesus. We aren't promised that we'll live long enough for our hair to turn grey and fall out. We aren't promised we'll make it to the point where our legs shake, and when we were once 6'4'' we've stooped over and lost a foot of our height. We aren't promised we'll live long enough to have our teeth fall out and go blind. We may never make it to the point where the slightest noise causes us to wake from our slumber. We aren't promised to make it to a point where we can be married and enjoy the benefits of intimacy, and one day have those desires taper with age. We aren't promised forever to draw from the bounty of life on this earth.

The preacher warns that we need remember our Creator before we lose all of our faculties. I besiege you with him to glorify God, life for him. Because the days when you lose your faculties may come quicker than you imagine.

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgement, with every secret thing, whether good or evil." - Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

DWYL - Soli Deo Gloria -