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 “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth.”  

“These words found in Ecclesiastes 12:1 intrigue me.  I understand the need to remember God but why just “in the days of your youth?”  The biblical writer goes on to answer this question.  His reasoning is that we should remember our Creator before it is too late.  There will come a time when we may no longer be able to do so.  Still, I believe we would be justified today to remove the latter part of this verse.  All of us, young and old alike, should make every effort to remember our Creator.  This is true for several important reasons.

We should remember our Creator regularly to help us keep things in perspective.  So many of the problems we face these days, both as individuals and as a society, stem from the fact that we tend to put ourselves first.  It’s almost as though we are convinced the world exists for us.  The Psalmist, however, reminds us that “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.” (Ps. 24:1-2) Elsewhere the Psalmist says “Know that the Lord is God.  It is he who made us, and we are his.” (Ps. 100:3) When we pause to remember our Creator, we are forced to recall that we, along with everything else, exist because of God.  Furthermore, we, along with everything else, exist for God.  If we could somehow keep in mind these two fundamental truths it would change our lives drastically.  It would basically eliminate pride—the deadliest of the Seven Deadly Sins—and cause us to look at ourselves and others in a whole new light.  It would likewise cause us to look at the earth and all our surroundings differently.

If we sought to remember our Creator on a regular basis we would be forced to remember our calling to be good stewards of God’s Creation.  We would recall the Bible’s repeated affirmation that the world is good, and our responsibility is to make sure it stays that way.  The earth is not ours to do with as we please.  We are merely tenants who are expected to cherish, protect and preserve that which our Creator permits us to dwell on.  The earth is valuable to God.  John 3:16 says “God so loved the world He gave His only Son…” The world’s value must also be recognized by us.  Who could deny that many of our environmental crises would not exist if only we humans had been humble enough to remember our Creator?

The One who created this world deserves our utmost respect, our complete devotion, and our faithful service.  The writer of Ecclesiastes was on to something when he challenged young people to “remember your Creator.”  I just happen to believe that this is something we all need to do, regardless of our age.  It will make a big difference in our life and in the world—a difference we all need. “  [from Seeing Creation, by Chuck Summers]


Consider Creation

All people of the earth, each and every nation 
Arise and rejoice at the continued creation 
Of beauty, of springtime, the yearly rebirth 
Of our protector, our home, our own Mother Earth!
Who despite our apparent lack of care
Creates bountiful splendor for all to share 
From mountain tops to the deepest sea 
All wonderful earthly miracles bursting free!
Yet this miracle of renewal requires the helping hand 
Of the people to replenish and renew the land 
From the largest of cities to the most remote farms 
To unite in spirit and with the strongest arms.
Become a midwife to the birth of each flower 
A guardian of our resources hour by hour 
We must learn to take time to appreciate 
The miracles of which we did not create.
For God has given this wonderful treasure 
And its preservation will be the measure 
Of people who recognize and will celebrate 
The birth of each season before it's too late.
In citizenship, in willingness to toil 
We must bend our backs and tend to the soil 
In stewardship, arise and applaud the worth 
Of the wondrous marvel of our Living Earth!
Consider creation. . .. Consider it now.
 
 

Photo by Jess Zoerb on Unsplash