Our theme this month comes from Ecclesiastes 12:1: "Remember also thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them ..." The writer, Solomon, the son of king David was given wisdom of God to enable him to be the wisest man who had ever lived to that point (1:16). However, it is clear that in many areas of his own life he failed to live by the things that he wrote. If we understand and keep the words of Solomon (and not follow his deeds), there is no reason that we cannot be as wiser than Solomon.
Perhaps one reason that Solomon saw the need for wisdom was because of the times when his father David lacked it, and the consequences that this caused. We are all familiar with the story of David and Bathsheba, and his murder of her husband, Uriah (2 Samuel 11). The suffering caused by this sin, both to David, his family, and the nation of Israel followed him the rest of his life.
Such a bitter harvest would harden most men against God, as Pharaoh was hardened by the punishments doled out to him and his nation. However, both the Old and New Testaments tell us that David was a "man after God's own heart (1 Sam. 13:14; Acts 13:22), and David's penitent heart was quite obvious.
Here is the question that we should ponder: would David have repented and returned to God had he not "remembered his Creator in the days of his youth?" Whether young or old, we all need to seize every opportunity to serve God recognizing that in doing so we lay up in store treasures that cannot be taken from us.
These bible study questions provide assistance to you in studying and teaching God's word. The answers are quite clear, and they prove that we can have the same understanding as the apostles had by reading what they wrote (Ephesians 3:4). We challenge you to open your bible and establish the truth.
REMEMBERING OUR CREATOR (ROMANS 12)
Is anything short of a total sacrifice acceptable to God? (1)
Must this be of the reason and spirit -- the inner man? (1)
Will this lead to a renewing of your mind? (2)
Will this transformation enable you to prove God's will? (2)
Is pride and self-reliance the alternative? (3)
Can we feel that we are better than others? (4-6)
How should we enter into the work of the Lord? (7-8)
If we love as we should, what must we hate? (9)
What special relationship should exist with other Christians? (10)
Are these examples of what being a living sacrifice entails? (11-13)
Should we ever try to "get even?" (14-20)
What will happen if we do not use good to overcome evil? (21)
Putting off one's commitment to God is one of the most effective devices in the devils tool-chest. Whether it be the delay in submitting oneself to being baptized into Christ (Rom. 6:3), or the Christian's delay in becoming a total living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1-2), the net effect is the same: further separation from God.
Many people seem to think that the ideal life is one which is spent "enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season" (see Heb. 11:25) and then, at the last minute, repenting and spending eternity with God. The thief on the cross is often appealed to in rationalizing the validity of death-bed confessions. But is this reasoning sound?
First, it is highly questionable that a person can plan to commit a sin with the intent of truly repenting afterward. Note that true repentance is defined as being the product of godly sorrow: "For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, a repentance which bringeth no regret: but the sorrow of the world worketh death" (1 Cor. 7:10). Those who plan to sin are repenting of their service to God, which is totally inconsistent with repentance from sin.
By far, the very worst thing that can happen to the individual who sins is to obtain enjoyment from it. The leads to a strong desire to repeat the sinful act, and it often leads to an addiction in which the will of the individual becomes less and less able to come to repentance. But if we do not wish to enjoy and profit from sin, why engage in it to begin with?
One of the most fearful passages in this regard is 2 Pet. 2:9: "the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment unto the day of judgment ..." Each time that we make a choice between good and evil we are classifying ourselves either as godly or unrighteous.
It is not just that there might not be time to repent; it is that "every sin and transgression received a just recompense of reward" -- all sin has its consequences. "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?" (Heb. 2:2-3)
We appeal to you: don't reason that you will begin serving God after that next promotion, after you move, or when you graduate. I will not happen. It is in your power to serve God now, and that is all that is in your power.
Christians have to give up so much . . .
but Jesus said (Luke 18:29-30):
"Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or wife, or brethren, or parents, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this time, and in the world to come eternal life."
Most Christians (and people of the world, for that matter) understand the concept of "giving up" evil things of this world for the eternal reward in heaven. However, it takes real faith to believe the words of Jesus above.
Think about it. He is stating that we give up nothing; instead, we receive "manifold more in this time." Why would anyone who believes these words have any desire to sin? When we lust after worldly things we demonstrate clearly that we do not believe Jesus.
This verse also shows so clearly the reason that salvation is not of works. Since we give up nothing in our service to the Lord, how can we believe that we can in any way earn our salvation? Indeed, salvation is of faith, and those who believe what Jesus said here will render obedience to him "from their youth," now matter what their physical age at the time.