When is the best time to remember God?

Ecclesiastes 12:1, 2
“REMEMBER now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain”

When is the best time to remember God? The answer is clearly stated in the Bible text quoted above. It said we are admonished to remember God in the days of our youth.

The youthful days are the days when we are full of life, strength, vigour etc. It is the days we can do the exceptional, go the extra mile, do exploit, work tirelessly and pour out our entire energy. It is the days of little distractions of life and entire consecration. It is the days of commitment and loyalty. This youthful life full of strength and all these wonderful qualities can be channelled in the wrong direction without God in the life of the youth. The youth could pour out his entire energy to all sort of negative vices without God in his life. On the other hand, the youth that has received Christ as Lord and Saviour is not only controlled and directed by the Spirit of God but can do the extraordinary for God’s kingdom perhaps more than he would be able to do in his old age.

The point is, when we grow older we may not be as energetic to go about life as usual and this is what King Solomon called the evil days – “while the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain, when thou (as an old and weary man) shalt say, I have no pleasure in them”

It’s not impossible for one to know and serve God in old age, but can it be compared to that person that has known the Lord from the days of his youth? Perhaps. I believe in grace. But then, how much can one do for God when they are old? How much can be accomplished?

The youth who knows the Lord in his youthful days stand the more chance to serve God better in his old age. The youth who has received the grace of God in his life has a good tendency to still serve God better and acceptably even with family now involved and children, jobs, etc – there is more grace even as he grows older in the Lord and still abides with the Lord. The youth who knows the Lord in his youthful days would not want to throw away all his labour for Christ – his commitment, the risks he took for Christ, the battles he fought, the temptations he overcame, the persecutions he endured – in a hurry and would likely want to keep that in old age too. The youth who knew God in his youthful days and has done great exploit for God would know how to receive more grace to do so again in old age.

REMEMBER now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them”

One may think it wise to say, “Not now. I’ll remember God when am old when I’ve gotten children, when I’ve married a wife or a husband, or when am satisfied with life and there is nothing more to enjoy” but only then will such person realise that there is nothing as important as knowing God before all these things, that is, before they actually meet them. See what a songwriter said in a song after giving her life to God, but on her dying bed

“Must I go, and empty-handed,”
“Thus my dear Redeemer meet?”
“Not one day of service give Him,”
“Lay no trophy at His feet?”

“Not at death I shrink or falter,”
“For my Saviour saves me now;”
“But to meet Him empty-handed,”
“Thought of that now clouds my brow”

“O the years in sinning wasted,”
“Could I but recall them now,”
“I would give them to my Saviour”
“To His will I’d gladly bow”

“O ye saints, arouse, be earnest,”
“Up and work while yet ’tis day;”
“Ere the night of death o’er take thee,”
“Strive for souls while still you may”

“Must I go, and empty handed?”
“Must I meet my Saviour so?”
“Not one soul with which to greet Him:”
“Must I empty handed go?”

This person by the infinite mercy of God encountered Christ just about dying, but then after the rebirth – spiritual rebirth, she realised something. She realised that the joy of knowing God is in serving God, and she lamented those words. Yes she has been pardoned because God is great and rich in mercy “for his merciful kindness is great towards us and the truth of the Lord endureth forever” but she wasn’t happy to go that way. Now she wishes she could at least step out of that bed and do one thing for God before going to meet Him. At least to lay a trophy at His feet.

Even if that dangerous prayer you’re praying come to pass and you happened to know God just about leaving this world, what will be your joy when you see your Lord commending other children, “Thou good and faithful servant”…? What will you be commended for? Won’t you feel quite irresponsible entering heaven? Or what child is there that is called a child of God and would not work for His Lord?

“REMEMBER now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them”

The day of your decision making is now. The best day to remember God is the days of your youth. Tomorrow may be too late

“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon“ Isaiah 55:6, 7

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