Word of Salvation – Vol. 30 No. 02 – January 1985
The Time For Commitment Is The Present
Sermon by Rev. G. Van Schie, v.d.m. on Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:1
Reading: Luke 12: 18-21
Suggested Hymns: BoW.H.10; Psalter Hymnal 170:1,4; 441:1,3,4,5; 456; 487
INTRODUCTION
Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ,
It is only a man-made proverb: “Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today.” Many pay no attention to it. The natural tendency of man is to live for today and to put off as much as we can till tomorrow.
In the spiritual realm this is just as true as in the worldly sphere: the idea of putting off the things of God until another time appeals to us.
In our text we find that this is a danger especially for youth. “I will enjoy myself first and then when I settle down I will think about my life before God. However, we do not have only youth in mind. As we shall see, the call is to every one of any age that the commitment to the Lord is not to be made later. Wherever you are in life, the call to commit your life to the Lord is a call in the present. Commit your life to the Lord NOW!
THE TOTAL PERSPECTIVE OF LIFE
As we turn to our text let us first see the emphasis the author places on looking at life in its total perspective. A common error is that we look at life as if it were made up of different compartments. However, God wants us to view life in its entirety. Young people, see your life in its total perspective. Live the days of your youth according to that total view. View your life as a whole and not just as one little segment divorced from the rest. But then, this does apply to everyone, young and old.
When we view our life in compartments, we get the idea – “I have plenty of time.” I have plenty of time to get serious about my commitment to God. I have plenty of time to consider my relationship with Jesus Christ and my eternal welfare in Him. Young people have a natural tendency to believe that they are only young and therefore there are many, many years to follow; but the same could be true for older people.
Old age is something we keep putting off. Even when one is fifty or sixty. Old age is still somewhere further in the distance.
We don’t like to admit that old age has come upon us. So we keep making excuses for the way we are living as compared to the way God in His Word calls us to live in Jesus Christ. No matter what the age group, we tend to live for the present. We do not want to live for the future, for eternity.
Yet, here the author calls us to have a total view of life. From the beginning of your life onward, from your youth, think of the days that will come upon you. Think of the days when physically and mentally you are not going to have the freedom that you have now. Now you are strong. Now you are vibrant in your youth. Now there is much to look forward to. But believe me, the author is saying, the days are coming and they are coming quickly, when your youth will have vanished like a breath.
When we turn to chapter twelve, the verses two to five, we find the author taking a great deal of time to speak of the weakness of old age; and this is done in the most beautiful way. Let us just look at it for a moment. It is very important that we understand the message here.
In verse two he speaks of the time before the sun and the light, the moon and the stars grow dark. Remember your Creator before these lights grow dim. Here he speaks of the intellect, the mental ability to understand things, to follow and comprehend ideas. Turn to your God, remember your Creator, before your intellect becomes impaired!
He also speaks of remembering your Creator before the clouds return after the rain. One of the sorrows of old age is that no sooner have you overcome one problem to do with your health than another discomfort arises. No sooner has the one shower passed or the next cloud arises on the horizon threatening yet another “wet period” in health.
The keepers of the house trembling is another image to describe old age. In Hebrew the word is properly translated: “defenders”. That which defends the body not only against an enemy but also against a fall; in other words the arms and hands. In old age these defenders begin to tremble and shake as indeed we see senior citizens with shaking and trembling hands.
The legs are referred to under the picture of old men bowed and bent, no longer being able to carry the weight they once carried with ease. Teeth, under the image of grinders, are few having decayed and needing to be removed. The eyes are those looking through windows, growing dim.
We could follow this list right through and we would find that each part is a description of the weaknesses and infirmities of old age. And the call sounded forth by the Preacher is that while you have your youth and your strength, your vigour and your enthusiasm, that is the time, to remember your God, your Creator!
Yes, have a total view of life! This is basic to this book of Ecclesiastes. Young and old alike are called to prepare themselves NOW for the days that are coming. Not only the days of old age. When we turn to chapter twelve, verses six and seven, the call is also to prepare for your death!
When the silver cord is broken. When the pitcher by the well is shattered. These are poetic phrases describing death. Before the time of death comes, remember your Creator! Commit your life to Him!
One commentator has this to say at this point: “Death is certainly before you; perhaps it is very near to you. It is a serious thing to die, and you should feel concerned with the utmost care and diligence to prepare for it. Death will fix us in an unchangeable state. The emphasis is that once death comes it is too late to remember your Creator.
Once death has arrived, once the silver cord is broken and the pitcher is shattered there is no more turning to God. This is why the same writer earlier on in this book wrote: “while there is life there is hope.” As long as we have breath within us, there is the hope of salvation in Jesus Christ. One may yet repent of sin and turn to God! But once death has come that hope is gone! We become fixed in an unchangeable state.
We should also remember that death does not come only to those older in age. Young people also die. On the road, at work and in the home! There is no guarantee that we here will see the end of today. There is no guarantee that we shall experience the end of this hour! Remember your creator from the beginning of your life and ALL THROUGH IT! Leave no moment uncommitted to Him.
GIVING TO GOD THE FIRSTFRUITS
The call of our covenant Lord then, as He calls us through His Son, is to give to Him the very BEST of our life! We are called to give to Him the first-fruits; not the leftovers but the FIRSTFRUITS! The very best that we have to offer!
All having the same problem, we know that sin causes us to desire the very best for ourselves. The world teaches us, really pressures us with this teaching, that we look after number one first; anyone else comes after that, and that includes God. You look after yourself first and then if you want or have the time you can think about the LORD.
This attitude is also found in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ! The Lord is often seen as a ‘wet blanket’. Commitment to the Lord is viewed as something which is going to so restrict you. There is no room left to have fun. You cannot know real joy or have a good time if you commit your life to the Lord too early. God is seen as one who takes the fun out of life! The excuse for not making a profession of faith is: I’m not ready yet. God you will have to wait. I’m not ready to give up my freedom. The time of youth is for fun! Lord, you have to wait till later.
We see this in the life of the church. In the worship of the Lord as a congregation and in the decision making of the local church the youth are largely uninvolved. It is put off the Lord: I will not remember you just yet!
However, this problem is not found only within the ranks of the youth. It is also seen in young families. There too Satan seeks to do his work with the attitude that the time is not now to remember my Creator, to remember Jesus the Priceless Treasure. I am too busy building my house, establishing my business, studying for that promotion. Once again the Lord comes later down the line of priorities.
Even among those older in age, the pillars of the church, sin takes its hold in this attitude of NOT NOW. The thought of retirement from the work of the kingdom of God is quite common in the church. “I’ve done my share and it is up to the young people now to take over and pull their weight.” Now it is their turn and it is time for me to put up my feet and take it easy. Yet, Scripture everywhere declares that there is no such thing as retirement before the Lord of the vineyard returns! Each must work till the day of the master’s return. There is no time for laxness, no matter what the age.
If we follow this line of argument through we end up with no-one committed to the Lord and His mandate to the church here on earth! The time of commitment is in fact NEVER! The time for giving ‘all my heart, soul, mind and strength’ is always somewhere in the future; never now! There is always something that I need for myself first.
But the Preacher declared REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR IN THE DAYS OF YOUR YOUTH! At the very dawn of your life (this is the original meaning of the word) – the dawn of life – at that time the call is to remember your Creator, to commit your life to Him! The call in the covenant relationship into which our children have been received is to acknowledge Him who from the very beginning of our life promises His forgiveness in Jesus Christ. Remember Him from the beginning and all through your life!
Remember Him who made you in your mother’s womb, as the psalmist says in Psalm 139. I knew you even before you were born. I knew the days that were ordained for you when as yet there was not one! Remember Him who in Jesus Christ (if indeed you have the Holy Spirit working in your life) recreated you to be in agreement with the nature of His Son in true righteousness and holiness. In this re-creation He calls you as His son or daughter to remember that you are not your own but that you have been bought with a price, the blood of His only begotten Son!
Not just when you are older and settled; in all of your life He calls you to live for Him.
Remember your Creator. He created all things, including you. Remember that He is King. Remember and commit your life to Him!
The time at which it is best for our Covenant Lord to be remembered is in the days of youth. The commentator Leopold supports this in his commentary:
“There is no time when this can be done to better advantage than while you are young. Then self-surrender has not become so difficult as a result of evil ways that have become habitual. The heart is less calloused to holy things.”
Yes, the older we get the more ingrained sinful habits become; the more fixed we are in our ways.
When we honestly consider what it is: to put off committing our life to the Lord, not remembering Him in the days of our youth, we must confess that the reality of this delay is a severe case of selfishness in the face of Christ’s sacrifice for us on the cross. It is lack of thankfulness. We have heard the Gospel call and we know what it has to say, and yet we will not accept it!
This selfishness and lack of thankfulness is also seen when we think again of those years that fast come upon us when our ability to serve the Lord with the energy and enthusiasm of youth will pass away. One commentator puts it quite strongly, and rightly so, when he said: “It is the greatest absurdity and ingratitude imaginable to give the cream and flower of our days to the devil, and reserve the bran and the refuse and the dregs of them for God; this is offering the torn and the lame, and the sick for sacrifice.”
Surely, there is something “mean” about giving the Saviour the remnants of our life when we keep the cream of those days of youth to ourselves!
NO! In view of the whole of life and the coming days of infirmity, give to Me the firstfruits of your life, says the Lord; give Me the very best you have to give, as I have given to you!
TRUE JOY ON EARTH
Scripture is clear, the time for commitment to the Lord is NOW. The time for turning to the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength is NOW! Yet, even as this is said the text calls upon young people and all alike to enjoy their life. To commit your life to the Lord in this way does not mean life will now become boring and mundane! The Preacher actually calls upon youth to enjoy life; but the joy of which he speaks is far more precious and lasting than the joy we so often crave for and run after!
Verse 9 of chapter 11 spells it out for us: “Be happy young man while you are young and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgement.
Christian young people should enjoy their youth. Here is a call to be joyful when you are young; for days are coming when that joy will not be possible because of the severe limitations of old age. Yet, if you really want joy, young person; if you really want happiness, you will find it only if you live according to what the Lord says is best for you.
Let us face reality, brothers and sisters. The things the world holds before us as the means of finding joy are what we could call effervescent. Earthly joys are like the gas in a soft drink bottle; the bubbles in the lemonade. Once you open the bottle and leave it to stand for a while the lemonade goes flat. The joys of life are beaut for the time they last and how quickly that time passes. As soon as the ride is over what is left of that joy? What lasting quality did it possess? Such joy vanishes like a breath. The joy of which Scripture speaks, strengthens us in days of need.
If I became a quadriplegic or suffered some other crippling disease none of these passing joys would be of use to me to encourage me and help me cope with the difficulties I must face. In fact looking back on the fun I used to have when I had full use of my limbs may make me very bitter as my disability is brought home to me.
However, when our joy is in living for the Lord and seeking His will for our life no matter what the circumstances, no matter what the hardships, then we have a joy which lasts. Only in Christ are the real treasures of life to be found as Paul makes clear in Philippians 4:12 and 13 – “I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
Earthly joys are nothing in comparison to knowing Jesus Christ as your Saviour and your Lord. Yes, young people, enjoy the days of your youth. Have a good time, but have that good time in the Lord! He knows what is best for you. He knows what alone can fill the emptiness within. He points out where the traps and snares are. He warns us and leads us to that which gives us joy even in the midst of the greatest tragedy.
Such joy is found when we have remembered our Creator and have committed our life to Him. Not the superficial joy, when the heart is shattered; but the joy of knowing that in whatever I must bear I face it with my Saviour. Not only the hard and trying times, but also the good times are brighter and more fun when they are dedicated to the Lord and experienced with Him!
The call of the Lord to young and old alike is to be rich towards Him. This was the main thrust of our first reading. Our God calls us to not be preoccupied with ourselves as to what we can do to make ourselves rich. No, while we build our barns we are called to build them with the Lord, worshipping Him and giving our lives to Him in every part. When we commit our lives to Him in this way, we avoid the foolishness of the man who neglected the Lord; for whom commitment was a ‘future’ activity. His silver cord was broken and he had to give account.
The King calls and we are summoned to bow before Him in worship, offering to Him the first fruits of our lives. By the work of His Spirit within let us not delay but let us gladly give to Him what He first so generously gave us, our very life!
Amen