Ecclesiastes 12:1-7
In which home are you preparing to live? Are you only thinking of bricks and wall-paper—maybe even a particular street address?
Not long ago, a good friend and I were talking about Christians who have lost their love for the Lord as worldly things crowded into their lives and took over (Rev. 2:4). It seems that so many Christian’s lives are like unattended gardens, knee high in weeds (Luke 21:34; Matt. 13:7). What has caused the losses? Is it letting things of the world crowd out what is truly important? Is it procrastination about doing the things we know to do?
My friend’s question to me was, “How can we snatch our loved ones from the fire?” (Jude 23). How can we re-illumine what seemingly has died in them? The same question is posed in the parable of the sower (Matt. 13:3-8; 18-23).
“… Behold, a sower went forth to sow… (vs. 3) And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them…” (Matt 13:7)
“…He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful …” (Matt 13:22).
I continue to be reminded of Ecclesiastes chapter 12 where so many earthly things are understood as temporary while the eternal is seen as real. Several quotes from that chapter should be familiar to us all.
“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… (Eccl 12:1) because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets…” (Eccl. 12:5b).
“… Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it…” (Eccl. 12:6, 7).
“… Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Eccl. 12:13, 14).
Two statements my mother often quoted (meant to prod my resolve when I was a child) were, “Procrastination is the thief of time.” and “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” How very true those statements ring to my ears today as I watch those who are drawn back into the world because of lack of direction or purpose in their lives.
May God bless us all to prepare for our “long home” and to remember our Creator in the days of our youth—before the evil days come!
Beth Johnson
The Scripture quotations in this article are from the King James Version.