Ecclesiastes 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; 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;
Remember your Creator in youth by serving Him now, before the failing years arrive when strength fades and life holds no delight. Youth is the best and most favorable time to turn to the Lord, when the mind is freer from care and the fullest strength can be given to His service. To remember Him is to give Him first place with gratitude, reverence, love and willing obedience, devoting the vigor, clear thought and energy of youth to advance truth and holiness rather than to amusement or self-will. It is to build on Christ as the Cornerstone in this probationary time, laying every plan before Him and binding yourself to Him for time and eternity, and to make Him your guide by studying His Word and trusting Him rather than your own strength. This does not make life gloomy or hinder true success and enjoyment, but brings happiness, refines character, and leads children to grow into noble men and women as heirs of immortality.
Call to Remember Early
The call is to the young to remember and serve their Creator now, before the evil days come and the years draw near when strength declines and there is no pleasure in them. It is a call to turn to God while young, before the burdens and hardships of age arrive and the pleasure of life fades. To heed the Creator in youth includes studying His Word and listening to the voice of Creator and Redeemer, which steadies impetuous desires, brings peace with God, keeps one humble, discreet and steadfast in the right, and ennobles and elevates for eternal good.
Youth is the best and most favorable time to turn to the Lord. Then the mind is less troubled and burdened by care, and the best strength can be devoted to God's service. It is the time to seek God and give Him the vigor of life rather than waiting until difficulty and weariness come.
The appeal carries Solomon's own warning not to repeat his mistake of turning from God in the prime of life. In that prime God should have been a person's comfort and support and life, and turning away brings bitter consequences the young are urged to avoid.
What Remembering Means
Children are to be taught to honor their Creator while they are young, and their early training in respect and obedience prepares them to recognize and honor God's authority. Even little children are none too young to give their hearts to God, but are to learn to come to Him and begin serving and obeying Him early in the days of their youth, giving themselves to Him in love and willing obedience. Remembering the Creator means giving Him first place with gratitude, reverence, love, and willing obedience.
God gave life and physical and mental abilities to be cultivated and used to advance truth and holiness and to prepare for the work He entrusts, not for amusement or against His will, and the young are to give Him the strength and energy of their youth in His service with clear thought and vigorous action to bring glory to Him. It means building upon Christ Jesus as the Cornerstone in this probationary time, setting Him ever before you, recognizing God as first and last and best in everything, laying all schemes and methods of life before the One who died to bring life and immortality, and letting the cords of His love bind you to Him for time and eternity, so that the life given to God becomes most valuable.
It means making God the guide of youth by studying God's Word and listening to the voice of the Creator and Redeemer, not trusting one's own strength but placing hope and trust in God. This steadies impetuous desires, brings peace with God, keeps one humble, discreet in speech, steadfast in what is right and an example to others, and ennobles and elevates for eternal good, for God's instructions are of lasting importance. While the dew of youth is still upon them, children and youth dedicated to God's service are to be diligently trained in liberality in schools and Sabbath schools, early learning to lay by pennies to have something to give when help is called for, adding their gifts to the means in the treasury as God's helping hand, keeping the work to be done in the world before them, and being encouraged and helped to prepare for active service.
Promise and Daily Life
Remembering the Creator in youth does not make life sad or gloomy, and putting God first does not hinder success in life. Faith does not weaken human abilities and faculties, nor does it take away rightful enjoyment or lessen proper care for friends, society, and others. Jesus Himself gives joy, and remembering God brings happiness while making a person more courteous and refined in character. This preparation fits a person for life with heavenly beings in the home Jesus is preparing.
Giving the heart to the Lord in youth brings the rich blessing of heaven to rest upon children. Those who serve Jesus while young can grow into noble men and women and become heirs of immortality, free in Christ and belonging to the light rather than darkness, even amid the moral corruption that harms many young people. The young are to give their best days to serving God rather than letting worldly pleasures or accomplishments eclipse the Savior. A deathbed is a poor time to prepare for eternal life.