P. J. Alindogan tells the story of 30-year-old friends who had a reunion and were discussing where they should go for dinner. Somebody suggested that they meet at The Glowing Embers Restaurant because the waiters and waitresses there are young and beautiful. They all agreed.
Fifteen years later, at 45 years of age, they met and discussed again where they should have dinner. Somebody suggested The Glowing Embers because the food and wine selection there are very good. They all agreed.
Another 15 years later at 60 years of age, they once again discussed where to meet. Somebody suggested The Glowing Embers because you can eat there in peace and quiet and the restaurant is smoke free. They all agreed.
Another fifteen years later, at the age of 75, the group discussed again where they should meet. Somebody suggested that they should meet at The Glowing Embers because the restaurant is physically accessible, and they even have an elevator. They all agreed.
Finally, 15 years later at the age of 90, the same group of friends discussed one more time where they should meet for dinner. Somebody suggested that they should meet at The Glowing Embers because they had never been there before. And they all agreed (P. J. Alindogan, “Communicate and Relate,” The Potter's Jar blog, 3-25-12; www.PreachingToday.com).
It’s amazing how things change as you grow older and not always for the better. But here’s the good news! Your declining years are not the end of the matter. They do not have to define who you are and the meaning of your life. If you have your Bibles, I invite you to turn with me to Ecclesiastes 12, Ecclesiastes 12, where the Bible describes “the end of the matter,” or what life is really all about.
Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them” (ESV).
Earlier, Solomon said, “Remember that the days of darkness will be many” (Ecclesiastes 11:8). Now, he says…
REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR…
before those days of darkness come, i.e., before you grow too old to enjoy life.
Now, remembering in the Bible means more than just recalling someone or something to mind. It also means responding in an appropriate way. So, to remember “that the days of darkness will be many” means enjoy the days of light while you can. And to remember your Creator means submit to Him as such.
God gave you life and He can take it away. He is your Sovereign Lord, so respond to Him as such. Respect Him, obey Him, and serve Him before you grow too old to do it well. Commit your life to Him, giving Him the best years of your life, not the leftovers. Remember your Creator…
Ecclesiastes 12:2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain (ESV).
Commit your life to the Lord before the storms of old age come. Remember your Creator before…
Ecclesiastes 12:3 …the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed (ESV).
Commit your life to the Lord before your hands shake, before your legs are bent, before you lose your teeth, and before the cataracts dim your sight. Remember your Creator before…
Ecclesiastes 12:4 …the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low (ESV).
Commit your life to the Lord before you are shut in, before you lose your hearing, and before you lose your sleep. Even though you can barely hear the music, a little bird wakes you up early in the morning. Remember your Creator before all this happens. Remember your Creator before fear sets in.
Ecclesiastes 12:5 They are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets (ESV).
Commit your life to the Lord before the fear of heights or traveling stops you in your tracks, before your hair turns white (like almond blossoms), before you lose your mobility (like a wounded grasshopper), and before your desire fails—literally, before the caperberry breaks. Now, the caperberry was an ancient aphrodisiac, thought to stimulate sexual desire. So, when the caperberry breaks, it fails to stimulate you anymore. Today, we’d say the Viagra stops working. Remember your Creator…
Ecclesiastes 12:6-7 …before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (ESV).
Commit your life to the Lord before you die. Give God whatever years you have left, starting now, before there are no more years to give.
Ecclesiastes 12:8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity (ESV).
Life is but a breath, a vapor, so make it count before it’s gone. Specifically, commit your life to the Lord, because that’s what gives your life meaning and makes living worthwhile.
Four years ago (2019), Shiro Oguni opened a pop-up restaurant in Shizuoka, Japan. It was like a lot of other high-end restaurants, except all the wait staff had dementia. Take a look (show The Restaurant of Mistaken Orders video).
In a YouTube video, the owner explains his vision, “Dementia is so widely misunderstood. People believe you can’t do anything for yourself, and the condition will often mean complete isolation from society. We want to change society to become more caring and easy-going, so we can live together in harmony.”
The video then shows the kitchen where Shiro and the chefs are cooking food. In a voiceover Shiro says, “We opened a limited period popup restaurant where all the waiting staff are dementia patients … and what did we call ourselves? The ‘Restaurant of Mistaken Orders.’”
The video then shows the wait staff lined up at the door of the restaurant bowing to the customers as they enter the restaurant. Then they take orders and begin bringing the orders to customers seated at the tables. One elderly server has a delicious plate of food which she offers to a guest, who smiling shakes her head that this is not what was ordered. The server says with a big smile, “It isn’t? Oops! Sorry dear.” Another waiter puts a drink in front of a customer only to take it back. “Oh, sorry, that wasn’t right. Oh no it was! I heard what you said, but I just can’t remember!” Another waiter needs help in totaling the bill and the customers kindly help them with the math.
There is an atmosphere of joy and smiles at every table as the wait staff needs help getting the plates of food to the correct person and words of gentle apology about the confusion.
Shiro says, “Our restaurant is stylish, and serves great food. If your order was mistaken, you can shrug it off with a smile and enjoy what comes your way anyway. The name, ‘The Restaurant of Mistaken Orders,’ allows our customers to enter with an open mind. They expected mistakes, so were OK with it. It created an air of easy-going acceptance. I’m convinced that if our message become more mainstream society will become more tolerant and open.”
The video ends with a summary: 37% of orders were mistaken. But 99% of customers said they were happy (Restaurant of Mistaken Orders’ Concept Movie, YouTube, 1-10-19, www.youtube.com/watch?v=su34Gx-STQk; www.PreachingToday. com).
It’s wonderful that people with dementia can still serve. It gives their lives a sense of purpose and meaning, but why wait until your faculties are diminished?
Begin serving God now, if you’re not already doing it. Commit your life to the Lord while you’re young. Then your whole life can be full of purpose and meaning, serving your Creator, who uses even your smallest efforts to accomplish His eternal plan.
The New Testament says, “Therefore [in light of life beyond the grave], be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).
This is the true “end of the matter”—not old age and death but being a part of what God is doing in this world, which counts for all eternity.
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last (C. T. Studd).
So, if you want to find true purpose and meaning to your life, 1st, remember your Creator. Then 2nd…
REMAIN IN GOD’S WORD.
Stay within the boundaries of God’s law. Stick to the Bible, and let God’s permanent principles guide your life above any other.
Ecclesiastes 12:9-10 Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth (ESV).
Proverbs are observations about life, which Solomon studied and wrote about with great care. Unlike the prophets, who received direct revelation from God, Solomon studied God’s creation to discern truth (Psalm 19). Even so, Solomon’s words recorded here are just as much from God’s mouth as those from any of God’s prophets.
Ecclesiastes 12:11 The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd (ESV).
That shepherd is the Lord Himself (Psalm 23:1; 80:1). He is the One who directed Solomon’s study and guided his writing. As such, Solomon’s words are permanent prods to living the good life just like the rest of the Word of God. Therefore…
Ecclesiastes 12:12 My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh (ESV).
Studying human words exhausts you. On the other hand, studying God’s word energizes you to accomplish His good and perfect plans for you. So stick with God’s Word, and be wary of any other words of advice, which could lead you astray.
In Change Your Church for the Good, author and pastor Brad Powell writes about the power of God’s Word to provide meaning to life even after a senseless tragedy. He says:
“It was five days before Christmas. A couple of hardened criminals had staked out several jewelry stores in our area. They were looking for the big score. When they finally selected their target, they went to work. Pretending to have a delivery, they showed up at the doorstep of the jeweler's home. His visiting mother kindly invited them in. The end was already determined.
“While holding her at gunpoint, they waited for his three pre-teen children to come home from school. Upon their arrival, they made the oldest call their daddy. He was home in minutes. Threatening his life and the life of his family, they made him open the safe he had at home. Although this heist was not as profitable as robbing the store itself, it seemed safer, easier, and lucrative enough.
“Oh, that the story ended with only the loss of some jewelry and money. It was not to be. These lunatics wouldn't have it. One by one, they murdered everyone in the home. It was, and remains, an incomprehensible tragedy,” Pastor Brad writes. “We got the call from the man's relative who attended our church. They were asking for prayer, counsel, help, and guidance in working through all of the issues facing them. Of course, our church family was all over it. If the church can't be a support during times like this, there is no point. We would do whatever we could to help the family and community deal with this tragedy.
“What I didn't know, until meeting with the family, was that this man and his three precious children had just recently started attending our church. Though they had been religious, they had never developed a personal relationship with God. Because this man was experiencing some marital difficulties, he began looking for and opening up to the idea of God in his life. As a result, when the family members that attended our church invited him, he gladly came along with his three children. They fell in love with it and began attending regularly.
“When meeting with the extended family, they told Pastor Brad that this man and his three children had accepted Christ as their personal Savior as a result of attending [their] church. The children had been reached through [their] kids' ministry. Their father had made the decision to follow Christ during one of [the] services. Because he had communicated this decision to his family members, they knew the worship service and the seat he was in when his life was eternally changed. Though it didn't change the devastation of this human tragedy, it did change everything as it related to this family's eternal destiny.”
At the time he began attending, they were doing a survey in their church. When Pastor Brad found the one the jeweler had filled out, along with all the general information, he thanked the church for making God and his truth so relevant to his life, and he encouraged them to keep up the good work.
“Imagine this: according to his own words, the reason this man and his children had come to faith was because [the] church had finally introduced them to God in a relevant way. Though religious, they had never experienced God's truth in a way that related to their everyday lives. When they did, they trusted him and found eternal hope. They are in heaven today because they found a church that communicated about God in a language they could understand (Brad Powell, Change Your Church for the Good, Thomas Nelson, 2007, pp. 299-301; www.PreachingToday.com).
That’s the power of God’s Word, my friends. It changes lives for all eternity. It gives people eternal hope and meaning even in the face of senseless tragedy. This is the true “end of the matter”—not tragedy and death but the word of God which abides forever (Matthew 5:18; 1 John 2:17).
So, if you want to find true purpose and meaning to your life, 1st, Remember your Creator, 2nd, Remain in God’s Word, and 3rd…
REVERE AND OBEY GOD.
Fear the Lord and keep His commandments. Live in awe of your Creator to the point that you respect His Word enough to keep it.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man (ESV)—
Or better, “This is the duty of every person.” No one is exempt.
Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil (ESV).
One day, God will justly assess everything you have done, even those things done in secret, and He will punish or reward you accordingly. So fear Him enough to obey Him.
Now, if that scares you spitless, it should, because God sees and knows everything. You cannot hide anything from Him. On the outside, you may look like a good, upright person, but God sees that secret sin, and He will condemn you for it.
So, what can you do? None of us can escape God’s judgment, because all of us have sinned (Romans 3:23).
Well, here’s the good news! God judged Jesus for all your sins on the cross (2 Corinthians 5:21), even the secret ones. Then He rose Jesus from the dead to demonstrate your deliverance from the penalty and power of sin (Romans 4:25).
Now, all you have to is admit you are a sinner, accept Christ’s payment for your sin, and trust Him to save you. When you do that, the Bible says, “There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). You don’t have to fear condemnation anymore as a believer in Christ, but you still fear God in a different way.
Lee Eclov, a retired pastor in Vernon Hills, Illinois, describes it this way:
I used to think that living in “the fear of the Lord” is like driving down the street while watching the policeman in your rearview mirror. But actually there's a better picture for the fear of the Lord. It's like a teenage driver who suddenly spots her father's car in her rearview mirror. Seeing him back there puts her on notice to be on her best behavior—to use her blinkers and stop at the yellow light, and to keep both hands on the wheel. But it also tells her that her father cares enough to follow her. It tells her that she's safe. Her father isn't trying to trap or trick her. He's trying to help her develop good habits; not just to be careful on this trip, but to obey the laws and stay safe until she gets home. She's driving on her own, but not completely on her own.
So it is for the people of God. The fear of the Lord means we live life with our heavenly Father always in our rearview mirror. We glance up and see his brilliant holiness but also his care and love (Lee Eclov, Vernon Hills, Illinois; www.PreachingToday. com).
God is still God, awesome and mighty, holy and just. So “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). But they are also the hands of your Loving, Heavenly Father. This is the true end of the matter—not condemnation and death but an awesome relationship with the living God of the universe!
So, if you want to find true purpose and meaning to your life, 1st, remember your Creator, 2nd, remain in God’s Word, and 3rd, revere and obey Him.
Charles Thomas Studd, better known as C. T. Studd, wasa British missionary who served with Hudson Taylor in China. He put it best when he said:
Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one,
Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, a few brief years,
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill.
living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Oh let my love with fervor burn,
And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone,
Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one,
Now let me say, “Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call,
I know I’ll say “twas worth it all;”
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
(C. T. Studd, 1860-1931, www.reasonsforhopejesus.com/only-one-life-twill-soon-be-past-by-c-t-studd-1860-1931)
