Remember Your God in the Days of Your Youth 1

8/14/2019 Remember Your God in the Days of Your Youth 1

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REMEMBER YOUR GOD IN THE DAYS OF YOUR YOUTH

Ecclesiastes 12: 1, 6

Youthis the time of life when one is young, but often means the time between childhood and

adulthood. Definitions of the specific age range that constitutes youth varies. Often youth refersspecifically to the time of life that is neither childhood nor adulthood but rather somewhere inbetween. Youthalso identifies a particular mindset of attitude, as in "He is veryyouthful". In actual

sense, an individual's maturity may not correspond to their age, as immature individuals can exist atall ages.

I looked at youth not based on the age bracket but based on the state of mind, a temper of the will, aquality of imagination, a predominance of courage over timidity, appetite for adventure over the lifeof ease. It is a well known fact that there are many adults who never grow up, and many childrengrow up far too soon. There are children who dictate what goes on in the home, and adults who are

looking in all the wrong places for ways to hold on to their youth.

Pope John Paul I I viewed it as follows:

What i s youth? I t i s not only a per iod of li fe that corr esponds to a certain number of years, it is also

a time given by Providence to every person and given to him as a responsibil i ty. Dur ing that time he

searches, li ke the young man in the Gospel (Lk 18:18 22), who searches not onl y for the meaning

of l if e but also for a concrete way to go about l iving his lif e. Pope John Paul I I fu r ther points out

that pr ior generati ons such as his had establi shed reference points in their cultur e,

acknowledgment of moral norms, the existence of God, the parables and teaching of the Gospel.

The period of Youth at times can be so frustrating. It is that period when one is hardly old enough tobe on his own, and yet he is feeling a sense of independence. People become so weird at this stagebecause they are attempting to find some sense of identity.

The Scriptures represent youth as a time both of danger andresponsibility (challenges).

In terms of danger, God said in (Gen 8:21b - 22) for the imagination of man's heart is evil from hisyouth; neither will I again smite any more everything living, as I have done. 22 While the earthremained, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shallnot cease. Paul when inspired by the Holy Spirit admonished Timothy to fleefrom youthful lusts (2Tim. 2:22). This statements shows that there are lusts that are associated to the youth.

In terms of responsibility, the Creator also recognizes the value of youth to the divine cause.Youngsters like we all know, have energy, they are daring, their hearts are filled with visions of thefuture, indeed; they can be a most valuable component in the service of Jehovah. That is more reasonwhy The scripture we read from Eccl 12:1 is calling us to remember our creator in the days, we arefull of energy and filled with vision.

Solomon, who wasted much of his life in folly, perhaps thought better of the matter in his decliningdays. He contended: Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil dayscome and the years draw near when you will say, I have no pleasure in them (Eccl. 12:1).

Again, Paul would say to Timothy: Let no man despiseyour youth; but you be an example to them

that believe, in word, in manner of life, in love, in faith, in purity (1 Tim. 4:12).


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The youths are wonderful resource in the kingdom of heaven. The fact is, the Bible is replete withexamples of how God has used younger people in some of the most vital roles in the unfolding of hismarvelous plan of redemption. Lets reflect upon some striking examples that demonstrate Godsconfidence in youth but before then, let us look at some characteristics of Youthful age.

CHARACTERISTICS OF YOUTHFUL AGE It is an age of vibrancy. A time of adventure A time of fearfulness and inquisitiveness A moment of becoming spiritually aggressiveness (you want things to change) Ability to endure and resist difficulty and/evil ( this is more reason why Jeremiah said in

Lamentation 3: 27 it is for a man that he bear the in his youth Yoke simply means roughtreatment or something that restricts your freedom and makes your life very difficult.

An age of productivity Age of laying of foundation A time of orienting you life towards doing exploits

SOME STRIKING EXAMPLES THAT DEMONSTRATE GODS CONFIDENCE IN YOUTH

JOSEPH

Joseph is truly one of the sterling characters of the Old Testament era. He was a favorite of his father,which incited the passionate envy of his brothers. Accordingly, these hateful siblings sold Joseph to acaravan of Ishmaelite who transported him down to Egypt, where he was later bought by an Egyptianofficer named Potiphar (Gen 37). One of the stunning features of the account is the fact that Josephwas only seventeen years of age (Gen. 37:2). A young lad, in a strange land, separated from hispeople and his center of religious strengthyet faithful to his God. As we all know that during thecourse of his duties in Potiphars house, Potiphars evil wife cast longing eyes towards him. Sheattempted to seduce him, but he, with firm resolve, resisted, insisting: There is none greater in thishouse than I; neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how

then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? (Gen. 39:9).

As the story subsequently unfolds, we learn that Joseph was being used by Jehovah as a providentialinstrument for the preservation of the Hebrew nation. Joseph would later recognize: God did sendme [here] to preserve life (Gen. 45:5).Again, at the end of his life, to his brothers he said: Youmeant evil against me; but God meant it for good to save many lives (50:20).All of this wasdone, of course, in view the Lords use of the Hebrew nation as an instrument in the divine plan whichresulted in the incarnation of Christ. Think about it. God trusted a teenager to accomplish such a vitalrole.

MIRIAM

As the Hebrew people multiplied in the land of Egypt, they were perceived as a threat to the stabilityof that nation. Hence the order was given that Israelite male babies were to be thrown into the Nile.When Moses was born, his parents hid him for three months; then, they placed him in a small vesselfashioned from the papyrus plant, which they deposited by the rivers edge, committing their preciousbaby to the care of Jehovah. In the meantime, Moses older sister, who is estimated to be about ten ortwelve at that time (McClintock, Vol. IV, 330), was posted some distance away, keeping watch.Finally Miriam obtained Jochebed, Moses own mother, as a nurse for the child. Oh, the ways ofprovidence.

Hear my point. The instrument to be employed for the conveyance of the Savior of the entire future ofthe Hebrew nation and the world was entrusted to a young girl (Mary).Does this say something about

how God values youth? Yes I know it does.


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It is possible that his preaching career spanned some sixty years or more (see Jackson, 7). Thissuggests that Jeremiah was probably in his late teens when he was called of the Lord to be his prophetto the wicked nation. God can use a youth of faith!

TIMOTHY

There was no companion closer to the great apostle Paul than his young friend Timothy. When theapostle wrote to the church in Philippi, the congregation for whom he had the greatest affection, hepledged to send Timothy to assist them. He paid the lad the highest compliment when he told the

Philippian saints that I have no man like-minded, who will care truly for Your state (Phil. 2:20).

From time to time, during Pauls missionary endeavors, Timothy was at his side. And during thosedark hours as Gods apostle awaited execution, he longed for the friendship of Timothy. In his finalepistle, Paul urged: Give diligence to come to me shortly (2 Tim. 4:9). What a compliment to this

young Christian. Can one be proud of you in such a manner.

Apparently Paul converted Timothy on his first missionary campaign when in Lystra (Acts 14:8ff; cf.1 Cor 4:17; 1 Tim. 1:2). When the apostle passed through the region a second time (16:1ff), he

selected Timothy to accompany him. Since Timothy was still regarded as a youth when Paul wrotehis first letter to him (1 Tim. 4:12), which was some fourteen years after the lad joined the apostle onthat preaching tour, it is believed that he was eighteen to twenty when he started working with Paul.

Remember Now Your Creator in the Days of Your Youth . . .

When you are young, there is a tendency to think that you have many years left to live, so you canenjoy some worldly pleasures now and come back to God later. The wisest man who ever lived hassomething to say about this: Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth . . . .Ecclesiastes 12:1. When you are young, is the best time to commit your life to the Lord. Why?

First of all, you can devote more of your life to Gods service. Second, when you are young, you are not yet set in habits, and it is easier to be molded foruse in Gods service. Third, if you go out into the world now that you are young, it is not going to be easy to come

back and commit your life to the Lord. In fact, it will be much harder. You will have formedbad habitsthings you have seen and listened to that cannot be erased from your mindwithwhich to battle, that you would not have had, had you not strayed from the Lord.

Fourth, everyone has influence upon others. If you choose not to live for Christ, others, byyour example, may choose not to live for Him either.

Obviously, Jesus wants the service of those who have the dew of youth upon them. He wants them tobe heirs of immortality because they grow up into a noble manhood and womanhood, notwithstandingthe moral pollutions that corrupts so many of the youth at an early age. There is no happiness or

safety but in the fear of the Lord. Young friends, morning and evening let your prayers go up fromunfeigned lips that the Holy Spirit may take possession of your hearts and keep you from theseductive influences of the world. Work for Jesus; stand up for Jesus; and he will stand up for you inthe day of Gods vengeance.

But there are many precious promises on record for those who seek their Saviour early. . .

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth. The days of your youth is regarded as the earlyday in your life ( work often starts by 8am and the sun is up the sky, if one is found sleeping at thattime, people will ask him/her what is wrong). [Proverbs 8:17; 4:18.]I love them that love me; andthey that seek me earl y shal l f ind me. They will find that the path of the just is as a shining light,that shines more and more unto the perfect day; and at the last, the Judge of all the earth willgive

every one according to his works. Daniel was another person who committed his life to the Lord whenhe was young. He was removed from his family at a young age and taken to the court of the greatestmonarch of that time. The greatest wealth, fame, and temptations were all around him, and yet,


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because of his commitment to God, he did not fall for the temptations. God honoured Daniel and hisfriends for their faithfulness to Him by giving them understanding greater than all others of Babylon.

BENEFITS OF REMEMBERING GOD IN THE DAYS OF YOUR YOUTH

Peace in your Heart,John 14: 27Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not asthe world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

It will help you to realize your destiny John 12: 35 36aThen Jesus said unto them, Yet alittle while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you:for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in

the light, that ye may be the children of light. It will give speed to your vision John 11: 9 10 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours

in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this

world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.John 9: 4 5 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh,

when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. It will help you to find favour in Gods sight, John 5:26 - 27For as the Father hath life in

himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And has given him authority toexecute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 1 John 5: 11 12And this is therecord, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Sonhath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

You will preserve the destiny of your generation and your generations unborn, Psalm 71:16-18. I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD; I will make mention of Your righteousness, ofYours only. O God, You have taught mefr om my youth; And to this day I declare Yourwondrous works. Now also when I am old and grey-headed, O God, do not forsake me, Until Ideclare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.

You will realize and accomplish Gods purpose in your life.

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Remember Your God in the Days of Your Youth 1