Growing Old with a Big Smile

Ecclesiastes 12:1-8

Ecclesiastes, Part 19

This passage in Ecclesiastes describes a person growing older. The way to grow old with a big smile is to remember God now. Remember means to "act decisively on behalf of someone. It means to consider with the intention of obeying." Since we will all return to the earth and our spirit will return to God who gave it, we need to remember him!

To remember God means we give him the glory, Deut. 8:17,18

To remember God we set up spiritual landmarks in our life, Exodus 13:3. This is one of the purposes of coming to church, having our devotions, partaking of the Lord's Supper. To remember HIM.

Those who deal with the aging hear five common statements. It is not easy growing old. One can either grow better or bitter with age.

1. Five common statements of the elderly

A. "I am useless."

They feel as if they are in the way, that they cannot perform any significant function.

B. I have failed.

Some are haunted by their past. They have guilt that will not go away. The way they reared their children. The way they treated their spouses. The way they spent their time in empty pursuits.

C. I am bitter.

Many aged people are angry. They blame others for their anger. They are full of self-pity.

D. I am afraid.

The fear of death haunts them.

5. I am ready.

I have met some who were ready to see the Lord. They had lived their lives for the Lord. Their sins were under the blood.

2. A Brilliant Description of Old Age:

This is a brilliant, beautiful, and poetic description of our body decaying and going back into the dust. The Scripture does liken our body to a house or a tent that we must take down. (Job 4:19; 2 Cor.5:1,2; 2 Peter 1:13) Between birth and death there are great days, happy days, days of sunlight; but there are also days of sorrow, days of darkness, days of difficulty (11:7,8; 12:1). It is easy to forget the Lord when we are caught up in the enjoyments and opportunities of youth.

Look at the aging process from a divine point of view:

1. The Light of Understanding be darkened: v.2

Old age is often accompanied by senility, and more recently we have read about Alzhimer's Disease. Life is difficult to enjoy if you do not have your mental faculties.

2. Hands and Arms Tremble: "Keepers of the house tremble"

3. Back and shoulders begin to bend over: "strong men shall bow themselves"

4. Teeth begin to fall out: "Grinders cease because they are few..."

For some of us, this happens sooner than for others!
False teeth.

5. Eyes begin to fail: "Those what look out the windows be darkened..."

Three B's of old age set in: the bulge, bi-focals, and baldness!

6. Ears don't hear as well: "the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low..."

7. Sleep becomes difficult:

Wake up early in the morning, do not get a good night's sleep. Sleep is easily disturbed by little noises. Little children can sleep through anything. Older people wake up at anything!

8. Voice begins to weaken and get low: "daughters of musick shall be brought low"

9. Fears of common things:

Things that never caused you a worry will begin to bring fear to you. The fear of falling while you walk.

10. Hair turns white: "almond tree shall flourish..."

Almond trees were white.

11. Feel ugly and a burden to others: "the grasshopper shall be a burden..." Num.13:33

12. Lose appetite for physical pleasures: "desire shall fail."

Desire to eat, or perhaps even the sexual drive is here spoken of, fails.

13. We go to our eternal home and people mourn our death. "the mourners go about the streets"

3. Practical considerations:

1. Life is BRIEF, so enjoy it!

Enjoy the daily experiences of life. Enjoy family times, daily events, wife and loved one, and even your job! (Ecclesiastes 9:7-10)

2. Death is REAL, so prepare for it! Remember God, my friends.

Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel is the cry of the prophet, Amos. Remember God today! We must be saved and then surrender our all to Him!
Solomon gives two final pictures of our life ending. Death is no respecter of persons! It happens to the rich and poor! The silver cord holding up a lamp hanging from the ceiling breaks. The cord of life breaks and the light of life goes out. Here is a wealthy person pictured, one who has a lamp of gold and a cord of silver.

The last one is the picture of a bucket that is lowered into a cistern for water. One day the wheel breaks, the pitcher is shattered, and the end comes. The machinery of life stops working. The heart stops, the blood becomes cold, the spirit leaves the body and goes back to dust.

3. God is LOVE, so Praise Him!

We are so forgetful! It is easy to forget the works of the Lord, the ways of the Lord, and the wonders of His love. Remember Him and grow old with a smile, rejoicing in the Lord and in your heavenly home!