Good morning…
Life carves us down, life carves us down deep. Just scroll back through our past five posts. A cancer-free seven year old now safe in Jesus’ arms. An eighteen year old breathing freely in heaven after a lifetime altered by Cystic Fibrosis. A twenty-seven year old wife and mom whose dream life was stolen by a drunk driver. A sassy ninety-five year old serving life lessons in sterling silver goblets to her heartbroken granddaughter. Even if you live a long time, don’t take a single day for granted. Take delight in each light-filled hour, remembering that there will also be many dark days and that most of what comes your way is smoke (Ecclesiastes 11:11:8, MSG). Life carves us down, life carves us down deep.
We are each given a smoke-like lifetime, so how are we to live this one life named “Ours?”
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 eyes—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 (Ecclesiastes 12:-7, NLT).
Whether long or short, we are given one lifetime. When we remember God, we discover all we need. Everything you were taught can be put into a few words: Respect and obey God! This is what life is all about (Ecclesiastes 12:13, CEV).
…Sue…
