ECCLESIASTES 12 – YOUTH AND OLD AGE

“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’-

before the sun and the light

and the moon and the stars grow dark,

and the clouds return after the rain;

when the keepers of the house tremble,

and the strong men stoop,

when the grinders cease because they are few,

and those looking through the windows grow dim;

when the doors of the street are closed

and the sound of grinding fades;

when men rise up at the sound of birds,

but all their songs grow faint;

when men are afraid of heights

and of dangers in the street;

when the almond tree blossoms

and the grasshopper drags himself along

and desire is no longer stirred.

Then man goes to his eternal home

and mourners go about the streets.

Remember him-before the silver cord is severed,

and the golden bowl is broken;

before the pitcher is shattered at the spring,

or the wheel broken at the well,

and the dust returns to the ground it came from,

and the spirit returns to God who made it.”

(Ecclesiastes 12:1-7)

This famous passage describing old age is preceded by “Be happy young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.” As a youth I was consumed by questions concerning the meaning of life and death on the occasion of my grandmother’s sudden early death at fifty-eight. It seemed illogical to me that a person I loved should one day be taken from me and no longer exist. At fourteen years old I could not comprehend old age and death. Now, at eighty four, I have experienced the ravages of physical decline described in this passage. I have had eye and knee surgery, heart surgery, dental surgery, and suffer from arthritis. However, I am profoundly grateful that I discovered my Creator in the days of my youth due to the proclamation of the Gospel through my local church (see above). At a missionary week I learned that the risen Jesus stood at the door of my heart knocking to enter. He was saying to me: “I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” (John 11:25,26) I invited him into my life and am anticipating being healed of my physical afflictions in the eternal home to which I am going. As God has given me life in this world he will fulfill it in the life to come. In seventy years of living with the presence, power and peace of Christ he has led me through many challenges and dangers, to give thanks in all circumstances. My prayer is that all youth will be able to enjoy the promises of the Gospel at such an early age so that they will have no regrets as they enter into old age. I pray that for my children and grandchildren, nephews and nieces.