REMEMBER YOUR GOD IN THE DAYS OF YOUR YOUTH Ecclesiastes 12: 1, 6 Youth is the time of life when one

is young, but often means the time between childhood and adulthood. Definitions of the specific age range that constitutes youth varies. Often youth refers specifically to the time of life that is neither childhood nor adulthood but rather somewhere in between. Youth also identifies a particular mindset of attitude, as in "He is very youthful". In actual sense, an individual's maturity may not correspond to their age, as immature individuals can exist at all ages. I looked at youth not based on the age bracket but based on the state of mind, a temper of the will, a quality of imagination, a predominance of courage over timidity, appetite for adventure over the life of ease. It is a well known fact that there are many adults who never grow up, and many children grow up far too soon. There are children who dictate what goes on in the home, and adults who are looking in all the wrong places for ways to hold on to their youth. Pope John Paul II viewed it as follows: What is youth? It is not only a period of life that corresponds to a certain number of years, it is also a time given by Providence to every person and given to him as a responsibility. During that time he searches, like the young man in the Gospel (Lk 18:18 22), who searches not only for the meaning of life but also for a concrete way to go about living his life. Pope John Paul II further points out that prior generations such as his had established reference points in their culture, acknowledgment of moral norms, the existence of God, the parables and teaching of the Gospel . The period of Youth at times can be so frustrating. It is that period when one is hardly old enough to be on his own, and yet he is feeling a sense of independence. People become so weird at this stage because they are attempting to find some sense of identity. The Scriptures represent youth as a time both of danger and responsibility (challenges). In terms of danger, God said in (Gen 8:21b - 22) for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more everything living, as I have done. 22 While the earth remained, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. Paul when inspired by the Holy Spirit admonished Timothy to flee from youthful lusts (2 Tim. 2:22). This statements shows that there are lusts that are associated to the youth. In terms of responsibility, the Creator also recognizes the value of youth to the divine cause. Youngsters like we all know, have energy, they are daring, their hearts are filled with visions of the future, indeed; they can be a most valuable component in the service of Jehovah. That is more reason why The scripture we read from Eccl 12:1 is calling us to remember our creator in the days, we are full of energy and filled with vision. Solomon, who wasted much of his life in folly, perhaps thought better of the matter in his declining days. He contended: Remember now 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 pleasure in them (Eccl. 12:1). Again, Paul would say to Timothy: Let no man despise your youth; but you be an example to them that believe, in word, in manner of life, in love, in faith, in purity (1 Tim. 4:12).

The youths are wonderful resource in the kingdom of heaven. The fact is, the Bible is replete with examples of how God has used younger people in some of the most vital roles in the unfolding of his marvelous plan of redemption. Lets reflect upon some striking examples that demonstrate Gods confidence in youth but before then, let us look at some characteristics of Youthful age. CHARACTERISTICS OF YOUTHFUL AGE It is an age of vibrancy. A time of adventure A time of fearfulness and inquisitiveness A moment of becoming spiritually aggressiveness (you want things to change) Ability to endure and resist difficulty and/evil ( this is more reason why Jeremiah said in Lamentation 3: 27 it is for a man that he bear the in his youth Yoke simply means rough treatment or something that restricts your freedom and makes your life very difficult. An age of productivity Age of laying of foundation A time of orienting you life towards doing exploits SOME STRIKING EXAMPLES THAT DEMONSTRATE GODS CONFIDENCE IN YOUTH JOSEPH Joseph is truly one of the sterling characters of the Old Testament era. He was a favorite of his father, which incited the passionate envy of his brothers. Accordingly, these hateful siblings sold Joseph to a caravan of Ishmaelite who transported him down to Egypt, where he was later bought by an Egyptian officer named Potiphar (Gen 37). One of the stunning features of the account is the fact that Joseph was only seventeen years of age (Gen. 37:2). A young lad, in a strange land, separated from his people and his center of religious strength yet faithful to his God. As we all know that during the course of his duties in Potiphars house, Potiphars evil wife cast longing eyes towards him. She attempted to seduce him, but he, with firm resolve, resisted, insisting: There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? (Gen. 39:9). As the story subsequently unfolds, we learn that Joseph was being used by Jehovah as a providential instrument for the preservation of the Hebrew nation. Joseph would later recognize: God did send me [here] to preserve life (Gen. 45:5). Again, at the end of his life, to his brothers he said: You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good to save many lives (50:20). All of this was done, of course, in view the Lords use of the Hebrew nation as an instrument in the divine plan which resulted in the incarnation of Christ. Think about it. God trusted a teenager to accomplish such a vital role. MIRIAM As the Hebrew people multiplied in the land of Egypt, they were perceived as a threat to the stability of that nation. Hence the order was given that Israelite male babies were to be thrown into the Nile. When Moses was born, his parents hid him for three months; then, they placed him in a small vessel fashioned from the papyrus plant, which they deposited by the rivers edge, committing their precious baby to the care of Jehovah. In the meantime, Moses older sister, who is estimated to be about ten or twelve at that time (McClintock, Vol. IV, 330), was posted some distance away, keeping watch. Finally Miriam obtained Jochebed, Moses own mother, as a nurse for the child. Oh, the ways of providence. Hear my point. The instrument to be employed for the conveyance of the Savior of the entire future of the Hebrew nation and the world was entrusted to a young girl (Mary).Does this say something about how God values youth? Yes I know it does.

MOTHER MARY One can only imagine how sweet the beloved Mary of Nazareth must have been, as evidenced by the fact that of all women in Israel, she was chosen to be the mother of our Lord. Something of her spiritual depth is seen in the psalm she uttered when greeted by Elizabeth, when she visited her in the hill country of Judah. The song is often called the Magnificent. The passage begins with: My soul magnifies [present -continuously] the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour (Lk. 1:46). In one of his books, Harry Rimmer noted that this little song, often verses in the English Bible, draws from twenty-three separate passages in the Old Testament (118). What a commentary on how her precious mind was filled with the word of God! Here is a fact that makes this even more astounding. In the Jewish culture, a girl was normally married by the age of twelve or thirteen. Prior to thirteen, a maiden might be betrothed to a man by her parents; at thirteen, she was of the legal age to make her own choice (MClintock, Vol. V, 77475). It is entirely possible, therefore, that when Mary gave birth to the Savior of the world that she was in her early teens. Does this not speak volumes about how God trusts spiritually minded youth? DAVID The story of David, who became Israels king, is too well-known to need elaboration. What a breathtaking episode the soldiers of Israel on one side of the valley of Elah, the defiant Philistine champion on the other. Morning and evening for forty days, Goliath had challenged Israel to combat, but they were frozen in fear (1 Sam. 17:10-16). When David arrived on the scene he was challenged by the timidity of his Hebrew kinsmen and volunteered to take on the infidel. But he was disdained as a mere youth initially by king Saul himself, and then by Goliath (1 Sam. 17:33,42). Never mind; God was with this youth, who may have been about twenty-two or so at the time (Clarke, 264). Goliath was slain and the Philistine force was routed. Edersheim called this victory the turning point in the history of the theocracy (89). JOSIAH Josiah was but a boy of eight (8) when he came to the throne. At the age of sixteen, he began to seek Jehovah, and by the time he turned twenty, he initiated a campaign to purge the southern kingdom of its idolatry (2 Chron. 34:1-3). He was the noblest king to reign in the territory of Judah Scripture says there was no ruler of his calibre, neither before nor after him, who sought the Lord with all his heart as he did (2 Kgs. 23:25). When Josiah was twenty-six, he arranged for repairs on the temple. It was at this time that a tremendously significant event occurred. A copy of the law of Jehovah given by Moses was discovered in the temple (2 Chron. 34:14). When the religious and moral message of the sacred document was studied, and the spiritual fabric of the nation was seen to stand in such glaring contrast, a reformation was proclaimed. One of Josiahs important accomplishments was the restoration of the Passover, which had not been observed with care since the days of the judges (2 Kgs. 23:21-23). Since the Passover was designed to preview the death of Jesus (cf. 1 Cor. 5:7), Josiah was an important element in preparing the nation for the Saviors arrival. What confidence Jehovah had placed in a spiritual lad. JEREMIAH Jeremiah, the great weeping prophet, is one of the more remarkable characters of the Old Testament. He sought so desperately to bring rebellious Judah back into conformity with the law of God. He began his ministry in the thirteenth year of Josiah (626 B.C.) and concluded his work among his people when the Babylonian force destroyed the temple in 586 B.C. But he prophesied periodically even after the fall of the holy city.

It is possible that his preaching career spanned some sixty years or more (see Jackson, 7). This suggests that Jeremiah was probably in his late teens when he was called of the Lord to be his prophet to the wicked nation. God can use a youth of faith! TIMOTHY There was no companion closer to the great apostle Paul than his young friend Timothy. When the apostle wrote to the church in Philippi, the congregation for whom he had the greatest affection, he pledged to send Timothy to assist them. He paid the lad the highest compliment when he told the Philippian saints that I have no man like-minded, who will care truly for Your state (Phil. 2:20). From time to time, during Pauls missionary endeavors, Timothy was at his side. And during those dark hours as Gods apostle awaited execution, he longed for the friendship of Timothy. In his final epistle, Paul urged: Give diligence to come to me shortly (2 Tim. 4:9). What a compliment to this young Christian. Can one be proud of you in such a manner. Apparently Paul converted Timothy on his first missionary campaign when in Lystra (Acts 14:8ff; cf. 1 Cor 4:17; 1 Tim. 1:2). When the apostle passed through the region a second time (16:1ff), he selected Timothy to accompany him. Since Timothy was still regarded as a youth when Paul wrote his first letter to him (1 Tim. 4:12), which was some fourteen years after the lad joined the apostle on that preaching tour, it is believed that he was eighteen to twenty when he started working with Paul. Remember Now Your Creator in the Days of Your Youth . . . When you are young, there is a tendency to think that you have many years left to live, so you can enjoy some worldly pleasures now and come back to God later. The wisest man who ever lived has something to say about this: Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth . . . . Ecclesiastes 12:1. When you are young, is the best time to commit your life to the Lord. Why? First of all, you can devote more of your life to Gods service. Second, when you are young, you are not yet set in habits, and it is easier to be molded for use in Gods service. Third, if you go out into the world now that you are young, it is not going to be easy to come back and commit your life to the Lord. In fact, it will be much harder. You will have formed bad habits things you have seen and listened to that cannot be erased from your mind with which to battle, that you would not have had, had you not strayed from the Lord. Fourth, everyone has influence upon others. If you choose not to live for Christ, others, by your example, may choose not to live for Him either.

Obviously, Jesus wants the service of those who have the dew of youth upon them. He wants them to be heirs of immortality because they grow up into a noble manhood and womanhood, notwithstanding the moral pollutions that corrupts so many of the youth at an early age. There is no happiness or safety but in the fear of the Lord. Young friends, morning and evening let your prayers go up from unfeigned lips that the Holy Spirit may take possession of your hearts and keep you from the seductive influences of the world. Work for Jesus; stand up for Jesus; and he will stand up for you in the day of Gods vengeance. But there are many precious promises on record for those who seek their Saviour early. . . Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth. The days of your youth is regarded as the early day in your life ( work often starts by 8am and the sun is up the sky, if one is found sleeping at that time, people will ask him/her what is wrong). [Proverbs 8:17; 4:18.] I love them that love me; and they that seek me early shall find me. They will find that the path of the just is as a shining light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day; and at the last, the Judge of all the earth will give every one according to his works. Daniel was another person who committed his life to the Lord when he was young. He was removed from his family at a young age and taken to the court of the greatest monarch of that time. The greatest wealth, fame, and temptations were all around him, and yet,

because of his commitment to God, he did not fall for the temptations. God honoured Daniel and his friends for their faithfulness to Him by giving them understanding greater than all others of Babylon. BENEFITS OF REMEMBERING GOD IN THE DAYS OF YOUR YOUTH Peace in your Heart, John 14: 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. It will help you to realize your destiny John 12: 35 36a Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. It will give speed to your vision John 11: 9 10 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. John 9: 4 5 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. It will help you to find favour in Gods sight, John 5:26 - 27 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And has given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 1 John 5: 11 12 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. You will preserve the destiny of your generation and your generations unborn, Psalm 71:1618. I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD; I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only. O God, You have taught me from my youth; And to this day I declare Your wondrous works. Now also when I am old and grey-headed, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come. You will realize and accomplish Gods purpose in your life.