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"Remember Your Creator"
Did your father have something he would always tell you? Maybe something to the effect of, “Remember who you are,” or “Just do your best,” or if you were a problem child, “Don’t embarrass me.” I believe Solomon may have revealed his parenting catch phrase in Ecclesiastes 12:1, “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth.” These three words comprise a simple yet profound statement. I imagine this was something he would constantly express to his sons as they would leave the house or to his daughter as he’d say goodnight, “Remember your Creator.” As you read through the article you will notice five things to remember about your Creator. Things that we need to remember at all times, at all places, and in all situations.
The first, remember your Creator is working. Our country has deserted God, and its citizens have forfeited even the most sensible morals. Because of this, we can become discouraged and feel like God has neglected us, but in Romans 8:28, the big picture is revealed to us, “We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Remember that no matter what, God is working things together for the good of you and me. When the people surrounding you deem good evil, and evil good, remember that God is not dead. Even though He may seem silent and inactive, remember your Creator is working.
Furthermore, remember your Creator is watching. We live in a world where privacy breeds the loss of integrity. With nothing more than a closed door, secrecy has become one of the devil's greatest allies. While your reputation may remain spotless, your spirituality can lay in ruins. But remember your creator is watching. The very last verse Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes 12:14 is, “God will bring every act into judgement, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.” When you’re behind closed doors, remember that God will judge. When the cover of darkness hides you from the discipline of the light, remember your every sin will be revealed. When secrecy compromises your integrity, remember your Creator is watching.
While this can be a terrifying thought, you must also remember that your Creator is wishful. God has provided us comfort in a wish. When we think of a wish we usually think of a genie granting someone wealth, happiness, or maybe even eternal life. But what if you already had everything you could ask for because you could grant it yourself? In 2 Peter 3:9 God wished for one thing. Repentance. “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” God’s one wish recorded in the Bible is for all to come to repentance. There are so many times you feel unworthy of forgiveness or think that you will never make it to Heaven. While the thought of that should certainly be frightening, remember that God desires for you to repent and come back to Him. Remember your Creator is wishful.
However, you cannot recognize this wishfulness and fail to remember your Creator is wrathful. The ideology that God’s wrath has forever ceased through the blood of Christ has become increasingly popular, and as Christians it is our duty to stand by the Bible on this subject. In Colossians 3:6 the Bible clearly addressees this subject,“The wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience.” God has provided the greatest gift of all, a formula containing His love for us, His grace through His son, and our obedience to His will, resulting in eternal life with Him. To believe that God’s wrath simply disappeared with Jesus’ death on the cross is to dishonestly evaluate God’s plan of salvation. Of course He wishes for you to come to repentance, but if you do not, you can rest assured that the wrath of God is reserved for you. When repentance is neglected, remember your Creator is wrathful.
Finally, above all remember you Creator is worthy. Revelation 4:11, “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.” Sacrifice is the act of giving up something of great value for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy. American olympian Steve Prefontaine once said, “To give anything less than you best is to sacrifice the gift.” To give God anything less than your best is to regard something else as more worthy than Him. In a world where sin is vehemently prioritized over God, remember your Creator is worthy.
At the close of Solomon’s extravagant life he summarized it with one sentence,“The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (12:13). When God seems to be silent, remember He is working. When a closed door is separating you from God, remember He is watching. When the guilt of your transgression is overbearing, remember that He is wishful. When you continue to sin against God, remember He is wrathful. And finally above all else, at all times, at all places, and in all situations, remember that He is worthy. Remember your Creator.
