Bible Passage: Ecclesiastes 12

Life is indeed fleeting.

I just reached half a decade in this life.

And I keep on wondering… where did all the years go.

More and more young people around me are saying this… “I am getting old”, “I am old and tired”…

And the fact of the matter is, we all are. Getting old that is…

And when we are old, we tend to find less energy and strength to do the things we know we should do, want to do or have to do. That’s why the encouragement from the Preacher is so apt today…

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.(Ecclesiastes 12:1)

There is a need for us to remember our Creator – our Lord God, Jesus Christ.

Here, remembering is not about occasionally thinking about Him or getting acquainted with him once a week during Sabbath.

Remembering here carries with it a deeper meaning of getting to know Him more. Being able to walk with Him, learn more about Him, talk to Him from young. And that this habit continues on even when we are older.

Why should we do it?

“Days of trouble are coming”…

Days of trouble does not just refer to the world around us (we read of disasters, wars, unrest, unexplained mysteries, financial crisis etc). It also refers to the fact that as we get older, we are more set in our ways and resistant to change. It’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks and to learn something new is very difficult. Our bodies grow weaker and our minds are not as supple as when we were younger. Indeed, “days of trouble are coming (if they have not yet arrived).

When we were younger, we were always reminded about the temptations that the young face.

But temptations continue to abound as we get older too. Temptations continue to entice, deceive and appeal to us in many powerful ways. As we go to work in society and start climbing the corporate ladder or business, perhaps there is the pressure to conform to the “usual” practices that you know are not right. As one becomes a parent, perhaps in wanting our child to do well, our “kiasuism” (afraid of losing out) kicks in and we sacrifice their spiritual well-being for their worldly well-being. We send them for many enhancement classes but neglect the spiritual training they so require when young.

Pressures from the evil one increases. That’s why we need to draw near to our Creator from young.

” … the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them … ”

Some of us have been in church for a long time, including myself. And many of us are very set in our ways. So much so, we do not want to change them even if we know it is good.

For example, we have been conducting Sabbath morning services for many years. But even though the Singapore companies and government offices have moved largely to a 5 day week, there are many members who would only come in the afternoon, despite many encouragements to attend the full Sabbath services.

Why? Only they know but for many, one of the signs of age is our unwillingness to change. Or lack of motivation for change as we are so used to our ways.

We must build good spiritual habits from young. And even if we are in the older camp now, it is still the right time to start building new good habits… because we are definitely still younger than who are are going to be in 10 years time.

Learn about God now. Learn about the Bible. Learn to do some work in Church. Get started…

Do it while you still have the motivation and there are less pressure.

I know of some, and I include myself in this category, who when

Jesus gave us a very good example. We all know the story of Him when He was twelve at the temple, asking questions and astonishing the teachers there with His perceptive questions. Luke says “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men”.

Why? Because He remembered His Creator in the days of His youth.

It is not too late for us to also start doing so today.