Live for Him!

“Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.” Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky. Remember him before your legs—the guards of your house—start to tremble; and before your shoulders—the strong men—stoop. Remember him before your teeth—your few remaining servants—stop grinding; and before your eyes—the women looking through the windows—see dimly. Remember him before the door to life’s opportunities is closed and the sound of work fades. Now you rise at the first chirping of the birds, but then all their sounds will grow faint. Remember him before you become fearful of falling and worry about danger in the streets; before your hair turns white like an almond tree in bloom, and you drag along without energy like a dying grasshopper, and the caperberry no longer inspires sexual desire. Remember him before you near the grave, your everlasting home, when the mourners will weep at your funeral. Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well.”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭12:1-6‬ ‭NLT‬‬
Solomon is now at the end of his years looking back in retrospect over his life. His body is aged and less capable. The years of feebleness and fragility are setting in. As he looks back over his life, things become a lot more focused. He has spent his years in luxury, learning, liquor, and lust. He has know wine, women, and song. The book of Ecclesiastes is the final book of three that Solomon wrote (Song of Solomon and Proverbs are the other two) that are recorded in Holy Scripture! In Ecclesiastes Solomon describes his life in this book. He is old now! He realizes that he should have lived his life in devotion to the LORD! The reality of death is ebbing at his feet and regret is harshly sitting upon his chest. If only he could go back and redeem those wasted years. He now knows what he should have done but he is incapable of putting it into practice. His body is no longer a cooperative partner in his pursuits. Solomon has plenty in his purse but nothing in his person, plenty in his head but nothing in his heart, political power but physical weakness, popularity but personal loneliness. However, one thing is positive: he has returned to the right perspective of life and the Lord is his focus. He knows that he must check in shortly at the gates of eternity. Perhaps he steps out on his veranda with his diamond studded robe glistening in the midday sun. Although he has everything a man could ask for, materially, he now recognizes that he is bankrupt spiritually. He has given the flower of his life to selfish endeavors and he can only hand a stem to God. The smoke of a misfit life rises before God. If only he could have seen this before!
How about you? How are you living your life? Is the Creator your epicenter? Does everything in life resonate from your relationship with Him? Have you lived the best years of your life in pursuit of things that really don't matter? Are you beginning to understand life in focus? Are there regrets? Is your body manifesting it's mortal condition? Perhaps you are young and vibrant. PLEASE hear this call to consider your values, your priorities, your choices, and your character! What is the meaning of life, you may ask? Life is simply defined in one word: GOD! Everything is about Him and how we live beneath that realization. A life lived in rebellion to Him will end in insignificance and eternal damnation. A life lived in obedience to Him will never end! Eternity awaits us all. The destination is dependent upon our relationship with the Creator! There are two destinations: Heaven and Hell! Where do you want to go?
Jesus Christ is the Creator!
(see John 1:1-3, 10; Colossians 1:15-17; and Hebrews 1:1-2).
Do you know Him and are you living in surrender to His Lordship? (see Romans 3:23; 6:23; 10:8-10; and I John 1:9 to receive Him). Whether you are young and in the early stage of life, in your middle years, or in your senior years, please look to Jesus in utter focus and ask Him to help you live the rest of your life as the best of your life, for His glory! Let Him, by His Holy Spirit, call you to Himself. Life will, then, come into focus as you submit to His call. Don't wait until you have nothing to give. Don't give leftovers to the One who prepared the table! Give Him the pleasure of your fellowship as you dine with Him!!!

Curtis R. Norris