WHY SHOULD YOUNG PEOPLE SERVE GOD?
Eccl. 12:1
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;
Every day we live, we grow one day older. There are some old people who wish they were younger and some young people who wish they were older. The human race has a tendency to think that they are never at the right age. That is why God wrote this verse of Scripture. "Remember now they Creator in the days of your youth."
Some of us as we grow older will do so with gracefully. And others will grow older ungracefully. We all know some older people who are sweet, kind and really nice to be with. We also know some older people who are hateful and totally discouraging to be around. Well, that would be true with folks of any age.
Growing older day by day is not something of which we have control. How we choose to live each one of those days is something of which we do have control. How we are going to age is a choice we can make. God desires that you and I learn to age with grace and dignity and so in His Word He gives us instruction as to how to age gracefully. The 12th chapter of Ecclesiastes is God’s pattern for easing into old age with grace and dignity.
That is what our text today is all about. How to live life from our youth to our old age and do it with all the fullness life can offer.
Remember that Jesus said to us, "I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly."
THE TEXT:
THE COMMANDMENT: "YOU REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR IN THE DAYS OF YOUR YOUTH"
The question I came up with is WHY? Why should the young remember God and serve Him in their youth?
T/S I CAN THINK OF 4 REALLY GOOD REASON.
THE VISION - Your creator .
If there is a God – If you must spend eternity somewhere – If He love you and created you and has a plan and purpose for your life – Having that for a life vision is one of the wisest things you can do.
I have pastor now for many years. I have seen many, many young people saved and dedicate their life to the Lord Jesus. I have lived long enough to see some of them serve God for years and I have never heard one of them say, "I really wish that I had waited until I was older.
I have seen several people saved in the last years of their life. I have heard almost all of them express with regret that they did not give their life to God while they were younger.
You need to know your creator when you are young and that He has every claim on your life and the way that you live it.
THE VIGOR
The Apostle Paul said to a young man:
1 Tim. 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
Without the youth – the church will die. It is the young people who bring vigor and vitality to the programs of our church.
I have heard people say, "Young people are the future of our church". I know they mean well but that is really a bad statement to make. The young people are not the future of our church but they are and active part of our church right now.
Did you notice the challenge that Paul gave the young man, Timothy?
Be an example:
In Word – In conversation (your manner of life) – In love – In Spirit – In faith – In purity.
Paul admonition to the young – After I’m gone keep it going.
I believe that a real part of the Great Commission is stated in 2 Tim. 2:2 "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also."
THE VENTURE
Did you notice the phrase, "Before you end up and have to say, "I have had no pleasure in life".
Heb 13:5b . . . . . . . for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
There is not another life style that will bring the joy, encouragement, fulfillment and contentment that comes from living for Jesus.
I want to give you a personal testimony. I have been saved for 50 years. Every day of my life has been an exciting adventure. I can’t even begin to think of passing through this life and not living it as a child of God. It is the abundant life.
Do you want to have a thrilling and exciting life? Do you want to wake up every morning and jump out of bed exciting about the coming day. Well, get on board with Jesus. You will never regret a day spent living for Him.
THE VICTORY
Want to have total victory? Paul gave us the secret.
2Tim. 4:6-8 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
I would like for you to picture yourself standing before the judgment seat of Jesus. You gave your life to him while you were young. You walked with Him through all the struggles and trials you faced. He got you through and was faithful to you in every turn of your life. He was with you.
That final day has now come. You can hold up your head and say, "I was not faithful in everything, Lord but you and I walked together all the way. THAT IS A LIFE OF VICTORY.
