REJOICE, ENJOY, AND REMEMBER
Pastor Dennis Clanton
Woodland Church
Wednesday, July 12, 2023
(Ecclesiastes 11:8–12:7, NLT) “When people live to be very old, let them rejoice in every day of life. But let them also remember there will be many dark days. Everything still to come is meaningless. Young people, it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do. So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. But remember that youth, with a whole life before you, is meaningless. Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.” Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky. Remember him before your legs—the guards of your house—start to tremble; and before your shoulders—the strong men—stoop. Remember him before your teeth—your few remaining servants—stop grinding; and before your eye —the women looking through the windows—see dimly. Remember him before the door to life’s opportunities is closed and the sound of work fades. Now you rise at the first chirping of the birds, but then all their sounds will grow faint. Remember him before you become fearful of falling and worry about danger in the streets; before your hair turns white like an almond tree in bloom, and you drag along without energy like a dying grasshopper, and the caperberry no longer inspires sexual desire. Remember him before you near the grave, your everlasting home, when the mourners will weep at your funeral. Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.”
1. REJOICE IN EVERY DAY OF LIFE.
“Rejoice in every day of life.” Vs 8
a. Do everything you want to do!
b. Remember I must give an account to God.
c. Live a self-disciplined life.
d. Make decisions with God’s perspective.
e. I have privileges and responsibilities.
(Romans 1:28, GN) “Because those people refuse to keep in mind the true knowledge about God, he has given them over to corrupted minds, so that they do the things that they should not do.”
2. ENJOY AND HONOR YOUR CREATOR.
(Ecclesiastes 12:1, Message)“Honor and enjoy your Creator…,”
“Joy in God is the happiest of all days.” – Charles Spurgeon
“Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” – Westminster Confession
3. REMEMBER GOD’S COMMANDS.
(Matthew 22:37–40, NLT) “Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.””
a. Go deep to the source of joy.
b. God is in control, not me.
c. Beware of believing the Gospel and not remembering it.