Ecclesiastes 12 1 Remember also your Creator in

Ecclesiastes 12: 1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them” 1 If you want joy under the sun you must remember your creator before the sun sets.

Ecclesiastes 12: 1 -8 Remember Your Creator 1. The Command (WHAT) – Remember your Creator. 2. The Problem (WHY) – We forget our Creator. 3. The Solution (HOW) – Behold Your Creator.

The Command - Remember Ecclesiastes 12: 1 -2 1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; 2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain,

The Command - Remember Ecclesiastes 12: 3 -4 3 in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, 4 and the doors on the street are shut— when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low —

The Command - Remember Ecclesiastes 12: 5 they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets—

The Command - Remember Ecclesiastes 12: 6 -8 6 before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, 7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. 8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.

If you want joy under the sun you must remember your creator before the sun sets.

The Problem - We Forget… • Ideal – Man finds his identity and purpose in knowing and loving God. • Reality (because of sin) – We think joy is found in having more of what’s under the sun…

Common Thinking I will live for Jesus after _____. • • • High School College Enjoy sin a little longer Get a girl/boyfriend Get a Spouse • • • Career Kids Less busy Make some more money Retirement

Common Problem We live as if our Creator and Lord are not the same entity. • Creator – the one who gives us purpose and promises to give us joy. • Lord – the one to whom we pledge our allegiance and look to give us joy.

Common Consequences Ecclesiastes 12: 1 -2 1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; 2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain,

The Solution – Behold Your Creator • Jesus is both our Creator and Redeemer. Col 1: 15 -20 • Jesus always remembered his Father. Luke 2: 41 -52 • Jesus embraced the consequences for our having forgotten. Ecclesiastes 12: 1 -7

The Solution – Behold Your Creator 2 Corinthians 6: 1– 2 1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you. ” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.