Our enemy says, “Youth for pleasure, middle age for business, old age for religion.” The Bible says, “Youth, middle age, and old age for your Creator.”
But as it’s especially in our youth that we are most inclined (determined?) to forget our Creator, it’s especially in these years that we must work to remember our Creator (Ecc.12:1).
Remember that He made you, that He provides for you, that He cares for you, that He watches you, that He controls you; and remember that He can save you too. That’s a lot to remember, but it’s much easier to start memorizing when we are young!
- Energetic years
However, that’s not the only reason why God commands us to remember our Creator in our young years. It’s also because these are our most energetic years.
Why wait until we are pegging out, until we are running down, until our gas is almost empty, before serving our Creator?
The God who made us deserves our most active and healthy years: our bodies are strong and muscular (well kind of), our minds are sharp and clear, our senses are receptive and keen and sensitive, our enthusiasm is bright and bushy, our wills are steely and determined. Remember Him in your energetic years.
- Sensitive years
Why do far more of us become Christians in our youth than in our middle or old age? It’s because youthful years are sensitive years.
Without giving up our belief in “Total Depravity” we can say that it’s “easier” to believe and repent when we are younger. It’s never easy, but it’s easier. And it’s easier because as we get older our heart is hardened thicker, our conscience is seared number, our sins root deeper, our deadness becomes deader.
Let’s use our youthful sensitivity and receptivity to remember our Creator before the evil days of callous indifference set in.
- Teachable years
We learn more in our youth than in any other period of life. That’s true in all subjects, but especially true in religious instruction.
All the Christians I’ve met who were converted to Christ late in life have expressed huge regrets about how little they know and how little they can now learn.
I encourage them to value and use whatever time the Lord gives them, but they often feel they have to study twice as hard to learn half as well.
ice as hard to learn half as well.
- Dangerous years
Young years are minefield years: hormones, peer pressure, alcohol, drugs, pornography, immorality, testosterone, etc. Few navigate these years without blowing up here and there.
Dangers abound on every side – and on the inside. How many “first” temptations become “last” temptations! How much we need our Creator to keep us and carry us through this battlefield.
Finally its too dangerous to go about your daily life without God at the center, the Bible says seek ye first the kingdom of God and all other things shall be added unto you.
What are you looking for? Wealth? Longlife? Good health? Our all sufficient God has all of that, all he needs is your heart.
Beloved it’s too dangerous to live without Christ in your life. Should you fall and die now where will you spend your eternity? Think about this. Jesus loves you.