Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years approach when you will say, "I have no pleasure in them"; before the sun and the light, the moon and the stars are darkened, and clouds return after the rain; on the day that the watchmen of the house tremble, and strong men are bent over, the grinders stop working because they are few, and those who look through windows grow dim; and the doors on the street are shut as the sound of the grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the daughters of song will sing softly. Furthermore, [people] are afraid of a high place and of terrors on the road; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and the caper berry is ineffective. For man goes to his eternal home while the mourners move around in the street. [Remember your Creator] before the silver cord is broken and the golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the spring is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. "Futility of futilities," says the Preacher, "all is futility!" [Ecclesiastes 12:1-8 NASB20]
So I recently was opened up to the idea that Ecclesiastes was my favorite, second to Revelation although that was more so during my youth. (for what teacher writes a letter to say she will never read revelation the same after speaking with me- and that she would let me know when there is a study on it? I was only in middle school; childlike wonder perhaps) Eventually I will join one.
I don't know if I remember much from back then? The thorn in my side doesn't help as I am stuck with it. Is there also memory loss associated with a spiritual awakening? I swear I remembered by phone PIN correctly but perhaps the 'silver cord' begins to break. Hevel! And so I fell to my knees in awe once again as each step forward is affirmed in my awakening. I felt this way last spring I know- wouldn't that vineyard be a great place to host worship nights? Or a Bible study? I am blessed that it didn't move forward. It would have more difficult of a situation; nothing God couldn't have handled but still a relief indeed.
This guy definitely gets it:
Lastly, let us follow the Lord's mind, and come what will. In a word, set your face, like a flint, to serve God, by the maintenance of his truth, by your holy life, by the savour of your Christian character; and, that being done, defy earth and hell. If there were a crowd of devils between you and Christ, kick a lane through them by holy faith. They will fly before you. If you have but the courage to make an advance, they cannot stop you. You shall make a clear gangway through legions of them. Only be strong, and of good courage, and do not regard even the clouds from hell, or the blasts from the infernal pit; but go straight on in the path of right, and God being with you, you shall sow and you shall reap, unto his eternal glory.
Will some poor sinner here to-night, whether he sinks or swims, trust Christ? Come, if you feel less inclined to-night to hope, than you ever did before. Have hope even now; hope against hope; belief against belief. Cast yourself on Christ, even though he may seem to stand with a drawn sword in his hand, to run you through; trust even an angry Christ. Though your sins have grieved him, come and trust him. Do not stop for winds to blow over, or clouds to burst. Just as thou art, without one trace of anything that is good about thee, come and trust Christ as thy Saviour, and thou art saved. God give you grace to do so, for Jesus' sake! Amen.
Spurgeon, Charles. "Sowing in the Wind, Reaping Under Clouds." Blue Letter Bible. 18 Apr, 2001. Web. 7 Sep, 2024. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/2264.cfm>.
An except from another :
Solomon, in Ecclesiastes 12:6, has left us a poetic description of death. How that "silver cord" describes the spinal marrow; the "golden bowl", the basin which holds the brain; the "pitcher", the lungs; and the "wheel", the heart!
The circulation of the blood was discovered twenty-six hundred years afterward by Harvey. Is it not very remarkable that the language Solomon uses exactly suits the fact—a wheel pumping up through one pipe to discharge through another?
Torrey, R.. "The Testimony of the Organic Unity of the Bible to its Inspiration." Blue Letter Bible. 6 Oct, 2003. Web. 7 Sep, 2024. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/torrey_ra/fundamentals/24.cfm>.
Maybe I sew together the science of this world with the red threads in the Bible. This way other scientists may come to know Him as I do. For the pursuit of scientific discovery leads to the Lord - can you see it? For He invited Adam to name His creation which shows how the Lord values our uniqueness and creativity. Are not the scientific and engineering wonders a testament to His goodness? That the creator would bestow such wonderous minds and bodies! A paradox some will say. I studied science the first half my life; the second half I will devote to the words of the most popular book in all the world - the Bible. Why not? At the very least it adds richness to my own life and keep my focus on eternity. (for distraction is my thorn) At its best I would be better equipped to open the eyes to sinners, comfort those that suffer and embolden the saints.
It was folly to forget, that as a man, I am a weak vessel. Time to care for the temple of the Lord. For I am broken and feeling old; but also healed strong and a bit wiser than I was in my youth. He is the Great Physician and in no need of a Phd or MD or DVM.
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. [2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ESV]
So I make leave to behead the old snake that strikes my heel. That song "step by step He leads me" comes to mind.
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