"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'...and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it." (Ecclesiastes 12:1-8)
Not that I am old yet, but one thing I have learned now that I'm 45 is this...the years do draw near. And the more years that go by, the quicker the next one passes. And the more years that pass, the less satisfaction I receive from the things of this world.
This may seem depressing to you. You may think, "I don't want to live that way". I understand why you would think that. But the problem with that way of thinking is that it is so short-sighted. What I mean is, it ignores reality and seeks to defy what is inevitable.
Scripture says that the outlook of our minds ought to turn away from earthly things and toward heavenly things while our minds are young. Nowhere does God even hint that we can wait or put off turning our thoughts and affections toward Him. We have been commanded to do this today! We cannot count on old age to come our way, it may not. Nor can we simply draw near to God anytime we so choose. We must seek Him when He can be found and call on Him when He is near (Isaiah 55:6).
Before the years draw near, we are to draw near to God. James 4:8 teaches us to, "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you." Now, that's a promise! The God of the universe has given permission, even summoned us to come to Him. The question is, how do we get to Him?
The answer lies in the verses that follow, which say, "Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you." (James 4:8-10). We are invited, even instructed to come to Him, but we must come with an admission of sin and acknowledgment of guilt. We must come with contrite hearts that truly regret our offences againt Him. And we must come with a repentance that only God can grant. A repentance that leads us to bow our hearts and minds before the King of kings and plead for mercy.
This is the way! This is the way to life! This is the way to life everlasting! Why is this the way? Because God said so, that's why. He makes the rules and this is what He has determined is pleasing to Him. I, for one, whole-heartedly accept His terms. I willingly and joyfully submit to His rule over me. I trust Him. I want to trust Him more.
And I have reason to trust Him more because He has given assurances. "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:14-16)
This assurance, just like with everything else in the Christian life, hinges upon the person and work of Jesus, the Christ. Because of Jesus, I can draw near to the throne of God without fear. It is not that I have no fear because I have earned my way there, but I have no fear because Jesus has earned His way there and He has brought me with Him. I am not ashamed in the least to say that all of my hope lies in Jesus. In the words of John the Baptist, "He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30)
Dear God, though the days of my youth have passed me by and many of them I frittered away, because of Jesus, draw me nearer to you as I draw nearer to my end.
Pastor Jeremy
