“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.”–Ecclesiastes 12:1

Yesterday was Memorial Day and our thoughts had to do with those who have died–many at a young age. Now our attention is turned to the living and the need of making the best use of the time we have left. The following comments from the Baptist Bible Hour helps us with this:

“It is inevitable, young person, that you will eventually come to a time—perhaps even years—when you are not even able to enjoy the pleasures of this life anymore. As unthinkable as it may seem right now, you will not always be strong, free of pain, able to eat anything you want (that day is actually coming soon!), or even perhaps able to get out of bed.

Why does Solomon remind us of this fact? Is he just trying to burst our bubble or make us depressed? No. He is writing this admonition so that we will begin now to pour our hearts and lives into pleasures that even old age cannot take away.

Remember now your Creator! Don’t wait until every distraction is taken away from you and God is the only person left to talk to. Serve Him now, even in the middle of a thousand immediate pleasures that may be tempting you away from Him. Because even now He is greater than any of these pleasures.

The truth is that, in your Creator, there are “pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11). He is not reprimanding us for enjoying the earthly pleasures of eating, music, painlessness, or sunsets — your Creator is the one who made these things also. But He is warning us against seeking these niceties as an end in themselves, while we are still able to enjoy them, and forgetting about the greater pleasures that never go away or diminish.

In the presence of God is fullness of joy. Don’t allow yourself to be satisfied with anything less than full joy.”

We are predestined to be conformed to Christ’s image. But now we groan, being burdened with sin. Now we are grieved, because . . .
our tempers are so unlovely,
our feelings are so carnal,
our minds are so wandering, and
our hearts are so depraved.

“But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him — for we shall see Him as He is!” 1 John 3:2. We shall be exactly like Him — in every sentiment, feeling, and design! Then selfishness will be forever done away. There will be no more . . .
rebellion in the will,
hardness in the heart,
wandering in the affections,
guilt in the conscience, or
blindness in the understanding;
but every faculty will be perfect in holiness — and the whole soul filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory!

We shall be like Him! Then we shall be perfect in knowledge! “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”

We shall be like Him! Then we shall be perfect in love! We shall love God perfectly and supremely. We shall love all who love Christ, even as we love ourselves.

We shall be like Him! Then we shall be perfect in happiness! Every wish will be gratified, every desire fulfilled, every prayer answered.

We shall be like Him! Then we shall be glorious!
Is Jesus enthroned? We shall sit with Him on His throne.
Is Jesus crowned? He will give unto us an unfading crown of glory!

“But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him — for we shall see Him as He is!”– James Smith

“When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.” Job 16:22

An approaching journey lies before me. I have to pass from time–to eternity; from this world–to the next. And the time of my departure, although to me uncertain, cannot be very far distant. A few years–perhaps a few days–will close my stay on earth!

It is an unavoidable journey. I must go. There is no choice. Willing or unwilling, when God’s summons for me arrives–I shall have to set off.

It is an unknown journey, I have never taken it before. I have no practical acquaintance with the road, the mode of transit, the dangers or the discomforts which await me. And there is no one who can clearly explain them to me. Those of my friends who have traveled that way, have never come back to relate their experience.

It is a solitary journey. I must accomplish it alone. The most beloved of my present companions cannot accompany me. They may think of me, feel for me, pray for me–but they cannot be with me. We must separate; they to remain behind–and I go forward.

It is a momentous journey. For at its termination, I enter upon my everlasting destiny! It will convey me either to the mansions of happiness–or to the abodes of misery! The narrow boundary between the present and the future state once crossed–there will be no possibility of change. “He who is unjust–let him be unjust still; and he who is righteous–let him be righteous still.” Revelation 22:11

It is a final journey. “Soon I must go down that road from which I will never return.” My pilgrimage will be forever ended. It will be my last journey. And if I am a Christian, how welcome is this fact! I shall be done forever with sin and sorrow. Eternal felicity will be mine–perfect holiness, and perfect happiness. This journey leads me . . .
to my eternal home,
to my Father’s house,
to my everlasting rest!

Then I will not shrink from its approach, nor complain of its accompaniments. It may be linked with much that is painful and unpleasant–but it is my way home; and therefore, although life has many ties and many joys, I feel an earnest desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better than being here. “Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction.” Micah 2:10

Death is a solemn journey–but it is a safe journey to Christ’s people; for He will not only receive and welcome them at its close–but He will be with them as they are passing through it. Oh, it will not be lonely with Him! And He is a guide who is well acquainted with the way, for He has trodden it Himself. He went for the purpose of smoothing its difficulties, clearing its dangers, dispersing its terrors–and He fully accomplished His purpose. Therefore when I walk through the dark valley, I will fear no evil; for you, O Jesus, will be with me, and Your rod and your staff shall comfort me! (Anonymous)

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”–Rev. 21:1-5

Exiled to the lonely isle of Patmos John looked at the sea as that which separated him from home and his dear loved ones. Then he receives this glorious revelation from God–“no more sea“! Being in that situation, I’m sure that divine pronouncement was much more meaningful to the apostle than to us. That sea was all that stood between him and home, and now he is told that one day there will be no barriers—nothing to separate us from home. In commenting on this John Henry Jowett wrote:

“What a number of “conspicuous absences” there are to be in “the home-land!”

No more sea! John was in Patmos, and the sea rolled between him and his kinsmen. The sea was a minister of estrangement. But in the home-country every cause of separation is to be done away, and the family life is to be one of inconceivable intimacy. No more sea!

And no more pain! Its work is done, and therefore the worker is put away. When the building is completed the scaffolding may be removed. When the patient is in good health the medicine bottles can be dispensed with. And so shall it be with pain and all its attendants. “The inhabitant never says: ‘I am sick!’”

And no more death! “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is Death.” Yes, he, too, shall drop his scythe, and his lax hand shall destroy no more for ever. Death himself shall die! And all things that have shared his work shall die with him. “The former things have passed away.” The wedding-peal which welcomes the Lamb’s bride will ring the funeral knell of Death and all his sable company.”

I fear our faith in God is not nearly so strong as we would like others to think. For all the talk there is about it there is not much evidence. And of all the ways in which our faith failure is revealed I suspect it is most evident in regards to prayer. Although given exceeding great and precious promises most refuse to pray as they should. James Smith wrote the following to encourage his church to pray–perhaps it will ignite a passion to pray in your heart.