“Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, ‘I have no pleasure in them;’ before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low— they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets— before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity” [ECCLESIASTES 12:1-8].
Composed of moments of memorable excitement interspersed with days of drab routine, we will undoubtedly agree that life always seems too short. No matter how many days we may live, they are never enough for us. Because our days are almost always defined by dull routine, we are lulled into a dreamlike state that allows us to ignore the urgency to care for the critical. Despite our putting off the issue that presses us down, life runs its course and we know we must eventually set aside the flesh that defines us in this life. Then, when at last this life ends, we must appear before God Who gives us our being.
An ancient writer addressed this truth when he wrote, “Just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him” [HEBREWS 9:27-28].
The words written so many years ago iterate the admonition that the Wise Man wrote long years beyond that time—words with which he urged readers to give serious thought to the tenuous nature of life, and to act now. Knowing that we have a Creator, and knowing that we must soon appear before Him to give an answer for what we have done with our life, each of us is cautioned not to squander the life that we are given, if for no other reason than the certainty that life as we know it is so very brief. Our days to accomplish anything of eternal worth are few, and they must inevitably end far too soon.
Therefore, a funeral is not conducted for the benefit of the one who has died; that one has already passed out of this life to stand before the Living God. However much we have loved that one, no matter the flood of warm memories dancing through the shadows of our mind, our loved one must now appear before the God who created us. Whether the officiant should state the fact or whether he remains silent, at the funeral we are faced with the frailty of life, we are confronted with the knowledge of the brief time facing each of us. Whatever we will do to prepare for the inevitable must be done now.
LIFE’S OPENING ACT — We are born into a world which elicits wonder. Watch the newborn child, the toddler who restlessly explores every facet of the world, and we joyfully witness the excitement of the child’s constant discovery of the world into which he was born. We are delighted as we see the wide-eyed delight with each new revelation the child encounters. Our delight reveals our fervent hope for the child, the anticipation of a better future for the child, and the sure knowledge that we have undoubtedly lost that wide-eyed wonder that we each possessed in the first blush of life.
LIFE’S PROGRESS — The wonder of childhood gives way to the grind that defines our years of growing into adulthood. School days, training in preparation for an occupation that will provide for us throughout the years that stretch out before us, courtship and marriage, and all the demands that attend raising a family become the things that define us. We are moving into the routine—the dull, demanding drudgery that defines life.
Because the demands of life are incessant, we quickly learn that we never have enough time to care for the reality that gnaws at our mind, the knowledge that life must eventually end. We know there is a God, and we know that we must one day give an answer to Him for how we live; but the demands of the moment seem to conspire against us, pushing every thought of the end of our days far from us.
Why is it so hard for us to purchase life insurance, to prepare a will, to speak with our loved ones to ensure that matters concerning our funeral are clearly communicated? Isn’t it because we don’t really want to think about such things. The thoughts are too dark. And if we don’t want to think of these last things, then we surely don’t want to think of the inevitable moment when we must set aside this flesh. What lies beyond this moment?
LIFE’S CONCLUSION — Yet, the end does come to each of us. Though we know it must come the end is always too sudden, it always catches us by surprise. We are strong and vibrant, pain free and unrestrained in the pursuit of our goals. But the goals we have are always identified with this life; and every ache, every new limitation, every moment is a solemn reminder that we shall not remain as we are now.
So, the Wise Man speaks of what must come for each of us—the loss of pleasure, the eyes growing dim, the weakened legs, the back that stoops lower and lower, and the multiplied dental problems. The confident step slows and brilliant colour that characterised our hair in our youth fades to a dull grey. Man is going to his eternal home, leaving the mourners to remember that he once walked among them, though too soon they will become consumed with the moment and soon forget that you were here.
Someone has said with brazen accuracy, “Life is defined by a hyphen.” On our headstone people will see the date or our birth and the date of our death separated by a hyphen; it is the summation of our life. That hyphen defines the totality of our life. No matter how long our life is, it will be too short. No matter how much of this world’s goods we may have gathered, it will not be enough to stave off the last enemy. No matter how many friends gather about us, they cannot halt death that comes for each of us.
REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR — The Wise Man cautions, “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth” [ECCLESIASTES 12:1a]. For whether you accept the truth of not, “the evil days come” nevertheless, and you cannot delay the moment that comes to each of us. You have this moment to prepare, now “to remember.” And for that reason the Wise Man also reminded each of us,
“It is better to go to the house of mourning
than to go to the house of feasting,
for this is the end of all mankind,
and the living will lay it to heart.”
[ECCLESIASTES 7:2]
These words echo an even more ancient request made when a great leader pleaded with the Lord, praying,
“Teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.”
[PSALM 90:12]
So, the funeral offers each of us an opportunity to consider our own end and the meaning of the days that God has allotted us. In his death, our friend has given us a gift—a gift that compels us to consider our own end and how we shall answer God Who gives us our life.
When I consider this opportunity before us, I remember the truth that is declared following an exchange Jesus had with a religious leader. After challenging that religious leader, the Word of God informs us, “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” [JOHN 3:16].
Knowing that Jesus is the Son of God makes no practical difference in your life. You must make the decision that you will respond as the Spirit of God pleads. The message of life teaches us that Jesus did sacrifice His life because of our inability to know God. While it is a wonderful thought that Jesus died for us, that death was not the end for Him. Jesus conquered death, rising from the dead. He was seen by hundreds of those who followed Him during the days He walked the dusty trails of Judea. Then, He ascended into the Glory where He is seated at the right hand of the Father.
Now, God graciously offers life and freedom from guilt to all who are willing to receive this Risen Saviour as Master over life. He offers in these words, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” [ROMANS 10:9-10].
Should someone argue that what is required is too confusing, the message presented is made as simple as possible when God says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” [ROMANS 10:13].
So, in the ancient words penned by the wise king known as Solomon, I urge each one who hears me in this hour, “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth” [ECCLESIASTES 12:1a]. Look to Him Who gives life and Who forgives your rebellion. Receive Christ Jesus as Master over life, even now. Amen.
