“Remember also your Creator in the days of
your youth, before the evil days come
and the years draw near when you will say,
‘I have no delight in them’” (Ecclesiastes 12:1).
As Solomon wrapped up his sermon, he offered a warning. This warning is especially directed to the youth, although people of all ages can learn from his wisdom. People need to “remember your Creator” when they still have the capability to do so.
Say what? Yes, there is a danger that as one grows older, he will no longer have the capability to think seriously about God, His Word and His will. This is illustrated by Solomon’s reference to the “evil days.” It is unfortunate that the translators translated the Hebrew as “evil days.” Solomon was not talking about days filled with sin and wickedness. Rather, he was talking about hard, difficult and troublesome days. He, then, proceeded to describe those days. They include numerous physical breakdowns. The hearing goes, the eyesight fades and the arms are not as strong as they once were. There are even mental problems, such as various fears.
This section of these “evil” (growing old) days teaches us important lessons. First, all people will endure these days if they live long enough. It is God’s plan that there be a physical breakdown over time. This world is not our home. God wants us to long for that better place where we will be given an immortal body (1 Corinthians 15:53; 2 Corinthians 5:1-4).
Second, mental breakdowns will impede one’s relationship with God. In this world of dementia and Alzheimer’s, we see what happens to the mind of the aged. The clarity of thinking decreases; the ability to make logical or rational decisions is impaired. As a result, Solomon encouraged us to make God a priority while we still have the mental capacity to do so.
Third, physical breakdowns impede one’s relationship with God. Even if one’s mind is still sharp, if he or she deals with physical pain or a handicap, it can impact one’s relationship with God. When we don’t feel good, we don’t want to do anything. When our bodies hurt—demanding our attention—our attention may be diverted away from God.
Fourth, we don’t have forever to figure things out. Perhaps this is the most important point about the “evil days.” As we journey through life, we need to have our priorities in the proper order. We need to be “seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). Solomon described the journey into physical and mental breakdowns, with the end result—death. When death occurs, opportunities are gone. If our lives were a mess, it is too late to fix them once we die. While we have life, we have an opportunity to figure out things and put God in the proper place in our lives.
Let’s all take time to do a serious self-assessment. Are we where we need to be in our walk with God? If not, let’s fix it. Those “evil days” are coming.
