How To Understand Your Life At Any Age. Nostalgia Looking Back Fondly At Your Youth…
Ecclesiastes 12:1 “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;”
The Bible does not sugar coat things. Ecclesiastes Chapter 12 is talking about growing old.
Verse 1 Is Very Bleak. Remember God now today while you are still young. Before the Evil days come upon you. “The Hardships of old age, being Weak and Frail…”
Remember God in your Youth. Before you only have a few years left to live, When You Have No Pleasure In Your Life.
This Verse Is Very Dark. When a person is Old and Frail their life is Hard because of age. Depression is difficult to avoid the older a person gets.
Living to be Very Old:
You might outlive everyone you ever knew including a husband or a wife, you could outlive your children…
Nostalgia at this time of life might just make you cry harder thinking of everything you have lost.
Nostalgia
Nostalgia is Typically Bad. I know People who are 30+ years old that live in the Past. For many of them Nothing in the Future will Ever be as Good as the Past.
God Says Not to Live in the Past
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
The Point being made is: For a Christian Life Begins When we are Saved.
We should Not Be Looking Back at our past Sinful Lives, Desiring to Go Back to that Old Wicked Life.
God Warns us of Nostalgia, Looking Back At Our Past. Because Doing So Will Cause us to Fall Backwards into our Past Sins.
Proverbs 26:11 “As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.”
2nd Peter 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: 10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. 11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. 12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; 13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the daytime. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; 14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet. 17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Ecclesiastes 12:1 “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;”
This verse is Dark but, I do not think we are suppose to take it as being Dark. The verse starts with: “Remember now thy Creator…”
If we live our lives with God at the Center than we will be able to deal Successfully with Everything Life Throws at us at Anytime in our lives. We will Not Need to Fear Old Age, the Future.
Do Not Fear Old Age. God Will Help us through it. It is a Privilege to be Allowed to Grow Old.
Isaiah 46:4 And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.
Leviticus 19:32 Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the Lord.
Psalms 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
The Message is If You Live your Life Serving Jesus God will Stand with You.
God will Bless You with Health and Strength Throughout your Entire Life, Even When You are Very Old, Which is a Privilege.
If God is our Everything we will not Live with Regrets. We will look forward to going to Heaven to be with Jesus.
Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
A Tough part about Living, about Life is our Hearts and our Minds.
A good portion of the Bible is about the Heart, about our Minds our Thoughts.
To have a Good Heart, a Good Mind we need to Live for Jesus. If we do God will Give us Peace. A peace that we can not even understand.
How To Have Perfect Peace And Joy During Your Entire Life:
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Are you Nostalgic? Nostalgia:
A song, a smell, a taste, a memory will bring you back to your youth. To better days??? To days and times you miss. To people you have not seen for a bunch of years, maybe decades. You will remember people now long dead… People you will never see again…
Nostalgia the dictionary definition: A sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations: “I was overcome with acute Nostalgia for my days in High School”
After your High School Graduation your Life will Immediately change Forever. Suddenly you have no time for anything but higher education and work.
Before you know it years have passed by. Maybe your life is better than you dreamed it would be. Maybe you are twice divorced with 4 kids and it is a real struggle to pay all your bills.
It did not take me long to be Nostalgic, Just a Few Days.
I was in the middle of Navy Boot Camp and thinking: “I wish this old guy (Company Commander) would Stop Yelling at me with his face less than an inch from mine… I miss having Fun with my High School Friends.”
Life can get REAL. Quick.
It did for me. The Navy was Tough Physically and Mentally. I was 16 when I joined the Navy. (The Delayed entry program) I was 17 in boot camp.
Life Accelerates Fast when we have to Live on our own to support ourselves. And in time having to support others. Life is Real when you have No Net To Catch you when you Fall.
Life is different for everyone.
We all do not have the same Level of Success. We Also Don’t All Go Through the Same Hardships, Failures…
Nostalgia can bring a smile to your face. Brief Nostalgia is OK. Living in the Past Though is Bad.
I know People who are Obsessed with the Past.
They are So Obsessed with the Past that they can No Longer Enjoy their Present Life. I have Stopped Seeing and Talking to Most Everyone from My Past. Because I Noticed All We Talked about Every Time is the Past. The Conversations were All the Same… I Refuse to Live in the Past.
Briefly Remembering People Fondly is Good.
People we No Longer See for Various Reasons we often find ourselves thinking about. Everyone Thinks Back on the Happy Times they had with Family, Friends and Dead Friends and Relatives. We Miss the Time we Spent with them.
Be Careful Not to Let these Memories Ruin your Present, by Thinking the Best of Your Life is Now Past.
Popular Music Has Numerous Nostalgia Suicide Songs About The Best Of Your Life Is Over So Now There Is Nothing More To Live For.
Below are 3 Popular Suicide Songs and a link to dozens more.
Be careful what Music and what TV you Watch. Most Entertainment has Hidden Messages, Hidden Meanings that are Designed To Cause Depression, Self-Destructive Behavior and Suicide.
Terry Jacks — “Seasons in the Sun”
Cemetery Drive – My Chemical Romance
Adam’s Song – Blink-182
41 Best Songs about Suicide Of All Time – Music Grotto
Beware Of The Music Industry:
Don’t Let the Memories of the Past of Now Dead Friends and Family Rule you.
This type of Nostalgia Causes Serious Depression. Dwelling on people who are Gone from your Life, who you can No Longer Spend time with is Self Destructive.
When a person is Young Aging is Not something they think about.
Today Most Young People Live Only in the Moment, Not Thinking too far ahead.
Parents, Older people Tell Kids “Enjoy your school years. When you have to start Working for a Living the Work will Never End. You will Not Have All the Free Time you have Today, so enjoy this time in your Life.” I Remember Being Told this a Lot. I understand it.
(For Me. Home was a Horror Story, a Prison. Going to School was a Necessary Evil. Other Kids were Distant, many were Cruel. Looking Back I Did Not have One Actual Friend. No One who Cared About me. Leaving Home Gave me Freedom. My Life became Much Better when I became an Adult and Gained my Freedom.)
Sadly Depression In Children is at Epidemic Levels. Child Suicide is Incredibly High.
Suicide Rates Among U.S. Adolescents Doubled in 10 Years (usnews.com)
Preventing Youth Suicide | Youth.gov
Tragically Some People Never Enjoy Even One Day Of Their Lives.
Explaining Ecclesiastes Chapter 12:
Ecclesiastes Chapter 12 Verses 1-7: Describe Old Age, they are addressed to the Youth:
Ecclesiastes 12:1 “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;”
This Is A Warning From God About How Age Can Be a Real Hardship.
The Main Point is: “Remember now thy Creator”
If You Remember God in Everything You Do Throughout Your Life I Don’t Think The Rest of the Verse will apply to You.
Evil Days and No Pleasure, Don’t Happen At Any Time To A Christian Walking With God.
(This IS NOT To Say. Christians Don’t Have Hard Times in their Lives. But With God They Are Never Evil Days without Pleasure. If You Read the Whole Bible You will see this is True.)
Ecclesiastes 12:2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:
The gradual Darkening of the heavenly bodies represents Declining Vitality and Joy.
The approaching clouds represent the Storms of Old Age.
Ecclesiastes 12:3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,
All of this is describing the later years of a person’s life. The strongest man will be bowed, if he lives long enough. The tremble show weakness in the body. And / Or Fear of the last days of Life.
The hands and arms which protect the body, as guards do a palace, shake in old age. The legs, like supporting pillars, weaken. The Grinders are the teeth and those who watch through the windows are the eyes.
In old age people sometimes stand at the window looking out contemplating their past (Nostalgia.) Life is not as bright as it was in their Youth. They can feel their Life fading away. Vision becomes weaker as the end of this Life nears.
The keepers of the house are the arms. The strong men are the legs. The grinders are the teeth. Those that look out of the windows: The Windows are Eyes. This verse is Clearly talking about how Age Affects our Bodies in Very Old Age. The Physical Decline of our Bodes in Old Age.
Growing old is further compared to the decline of a House.
Ecclesiastes 12:4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;
“Doors” = Lips. The Verse is Describing The difficulty of the Elderly to Speak. Being Mute. Many People who are Very Old have a hard time Speaking, or lose the Ability to Speak.
The Grinding is Low: Is the loss of Teeth. “Sound of the grinding” refers to eating little, when the sound of eating is low. The Very Old Get to the point they can no longer chew food.
And he shall rise up at the voice of a bird: Rise from the bed after being awaken by Birds. Having been tired with lying in bed unable to get good sleep. (Insomnia is common in Elderly people.)
As soon as the birds begin to chirp, sing the Elderly Awake. This is early in the morning. In Contrast Young people can lie down and sleep all night long.
“daughters of music”: The ear and voice that once loved music.
The sounds a person will hear in life will not be as Loud and Distinct as they had been, because of Hearing Loss. All the senses, parts of the body, which are employed in hearing music, will stop working correctly. They can No Longer Make or Enjoy Music.
Ecclesiastes 12:5 “Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:”
The aged become Fearful of heights. They are not as sure of themselves, as they were in their Youth. There is Fear of falling and breaking something. As we Age we do not heal as quickly as we did in our Youth. Fear is not the only reason. Our strength is not what it was when we were Young.
Fear, in the verse above, is speaking of a time when we are not as self-confident as we were in our Youth. The almond tree blooms turn from pink to white when the season is about over. This, symbolizes the white hair that comes with Age. The grasshopper is associated with pestilence, disease. When we Age sickness is always a Fear.
“Desire” is speaking of the Lusts of Youth which fade away with age. Man “goeth to his long home” is speaking of Heaven. The mourners are there, because the time of his funeral is near.
Ecclesiastes 6 and 7, are speaking of Death.
Ecclesiastes 12:6 “Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.”
The silver “cord being loosed” and the “bowl being broken” is speaking of the Life of man being over, or poured out. Age has cut him off from Life. The water of Life, now, Does Not Flow.
Ecclesiastes 12:7 “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”
When a Person Dies They Turn to Dust.
This verse completes The Aging Process, Death. God ends this message with the Culmination of a Human Life.
The life within the flesh is the spirit of man. It lives on.
Genesis 2:7 “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
Genesis 3:19 “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou [art], and unto dust shalt thou return.”
Job 1:21 “And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
1st Timothy 6:7 “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”
1st Corinthians 15:44 “It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.”
The spiritual body rises to Heaven.
This Depressing, Dark, Gloomy picture of Old Age Does Not change the Truth that Old Age can be Blessed by God for the godly.
Proverbs 16:31 “The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.”
Hoary Head is Gray or White Hair descriptive of Age, being Elderly.
The Message to the Young is:
They Will Not have the ability to enjoy the Blessings of a Healthy Old Age if they do not Remember their Creator while Young. (Verse 1)
A Person who Remembers God, is someone who Lives a godly Christian Life, in Service to God. Living their Life according to the Bible.
Ecclesiastes 12:8 “Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.”
God is Saying Living in the Flesh is Vanity. The Bible Definition of Vanity is: Human Life apart from God, even at its Best, has No Significance it is Valueless.
A Person is a Body – The Flesh. A Soul – A Duplicate Eternal Body inside the Flesh that is invisible to the eyes. And a Spirit. The Human Spirit is like a Vapor. It is like Air. It is Not a Solid substance. When You Talk to yourself it is your Soul and Spirit Talking to Each other.
God Wants us to Live in the Spirit which Doesn’t have the Sinful Desires of the Flesh. Note our Soul and our Flesh are Very Similar with Thoughts, Emotions and Desires. The Spirit of a Saved Man Doesn’t have Sinful Desires like the Flesh and the Soul.
Understanding the Body, the Soul, and the Spirit is Complicated. To Learn more open the link below:
Body, Soul, And Spirit (soulwinning.info)
Christians are supposed to Live after the spirit, Not after the Human Flesh, Fulfilling Human Desires.
The Frailty of Mortal things:
What is born of the Flesh is Flesh. The Flesh returns to the dirt.
Ecclesiastes 12:9 “And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.”
The wisdom given to Solomon was for him to judge his people justly and wisely. He used proverbs and parables to teach the people how to lead a better life on the earth. His goal was to help his people. He did, and in doing so he taught us as well.
1st Kings 4:32 “And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.”
Ecclesiastes 12:10 “The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.”
Solomon was committed to the Truth. The words he spoke and wrote were not his own. They were placed into his mind by God, when he received the gift of wisdom.
1st Kings 4:29 “And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.”
30 “And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.”
Solomon’s wisdom was not of this world, it was a Gift from God.
Ecclesiastes 12:11 “The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.”
“Goads … as nails”: Two shepherd’s tools are in view: one used to motivate reluctant animals. The other to secure those who might otherwise wander into dangerous territory. Both goads and nails picture aspects of applied wisdom.
“One Shepherd” True wisdom has its source in God alone.
Finally, the Controlling Factor of all of Life should be the Fear of God.
You should Live your Life according to God’s word. The certainty of God’s final judgment demands it.
Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: [but] fools despise wisdom and instruction”.
God’s Final Word on the issues raised in Ecclesiastes Chapter 12, as well as in Life itself, focuses on a person’s relationship to God.
The Saved, Believers, Christians will be Judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ… All the Lost will be Judged at the White Throne Judgment.
Judgment / Retribution is the real Equalizer, for God will bring every person’s Deeds to Judgment.
Unbelievers and some believers will stand at the Great White Throne judgment (Rev. 20:11-15). Everyone who Rejected Jesus will be cast into the Lake of Fire. Everyone who Accepted Jesus will be given a Crown of Life.
At the end of Life, We Will All Face Complete Accountability to God. This Judgment of us by Jesus on our Lives is both Eternal and Irrevocable.
Ecclesiastes 12:12 “And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.”
This is very true. Mankind is constantly trying to learn New things from books. Gaining knowledge by reading books takes a lot of work. The continuous study of books becomes wearisome, as we grow older.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
Jesus summed it up like this:
Mark 12:30 “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” 31 “And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”
Ecclesiastes 12:14 “For God shall bring every
work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”
Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 and Chapter 12 are covering the same Subject: Human Life. God’s Instructions on how to Live. His Warnings about the Negative Possibilities in Life if you Do Not Serve him by Living a godly Christian Life according to the Bible.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. 9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? 10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. 11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. 12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. 13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God. 14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. 15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past. 16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. 17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work. 18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. 19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. 20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. 21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? 22 Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?
Please, if you have not already Asked Jesus to Save you. Please Ask Him Right Now.
1st Corinthians 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
