Young, but Forgetful - Pastor Stacey Shiflett
- Pastor Shiflett
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Young, but Forgetful
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;
Intro: Our theme this school year is Ecclesiastes 12:1. This will be my last chapel this year because I’ll be in Belize next week. I would like to close out the school year with the same verses we started off with.
When we think about being forgetful, we think about senior citizens. One of the many joys of getting old is losing your memory.
Memory Jokes
“My memory isn’t what it used to be… and honestly, I can’t remember what it used to be.”
“I used to have a photographic memory. Now it’s more like an old Polaroid that never fully develops.”
“I finally reached the age where my train of thought leaves the station without me.”
In Ecclesiastes 12:1, Solomon is encouraging the young people to remember.
There are three things I see in verse 1 by way of introduction.
A. The Admonition that is Immediate - Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth
The key word is NOW.
No delay; it’s urgent; it is a priority.
B. The Adversity that is Impending – while the evil days come not
You’ve got a lot of help, guard rails, oversight, accountability, to keep the evil off of you right now.
That will change when you get older.
C. The Age that is Increasing - nor the years draw nigh,
There are several things that can cause a young person to forget God.
There are some things that can cause them to forget what they have learned about Him.
To forget the truth they have heard; the messages they have heard; the Bible they’ve been exposed to.
I. Forgetful because of False gods
Judges 8
· 33 And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baalberith their god.
· 34 And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side:
After Gideon died, they lacked leadership and accountability.
They turned again to the false gods of the surrounding heathen nations.
They got so involved in the gods of this world that they forgot the Lord their God.
The God that had delivered them from the hands of their enemies.
Deuteronomy 32
· 15 But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.
· 16 They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger.
· 17 They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.
· 18 Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.
· 19 And when the LORD saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters.
· 20 And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.
They got to looking at the gods of the heathen, and completely forgot about their God.
They got so enamored by their shiny gods that could fit in your hand.
Gods you could touch and see and smell.
Not real, but very cool gods.
What are the gods of this world?
II. Forgetful because of Fakery
Psalm 78
· 36 Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.
· 37 For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.
· 40 How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!
· 41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.
· 42 They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.
They were so busy trying to impersonate true believers that they forgot God!
They were completely consumed with playing the game.
They flattered Him with their mouth. (describe flattery)
They lied to him with their tongues. (singing “O how I love Jesus!” when you don’t is a lie!
They provoked Him often.
They grieved Him.
They turned back and tempted God.
They limited what His power could do in their life.
They remembered not His hand!!
How is that even possible???
III. Forgetful because of Fun
Sin can distract you and cause you to forget the bread that the Father has to offer.
Luke 15
· 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
· 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
· 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
· 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
· 17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
He was so preoccupied with his new friends and with fulfilling the lust of his flesh that he forgot.
He didn’t think about his father.
He didn’t remember all the good meals and happy times around the table.
He had to end up in the hog pen before he CAME TO HIMSELF.
And then he remembered.
Conclusion: You should make a commitment today not to forget God during this summer.
Ask God to protect your heart, your eyes, your ears and to help you keep your mind on God.