Remember thy Creator.
I. REMEMBER: WHOM? "Thy Creator." The language implies:
1. That man has a Creator. It would certainly be strange if he had not, seeing that all things else have. And that Creator is not himself, since he is at best a dependent creature (Genesis 3:19); or an inferior divinity, since there is none such (2 Samuel 7:22; Isaiah 44:6); but
2. That man originally knows God. That even in his fallen condition he is not entirely destitute of a knowledge of God—not, perhaps, a knowledge clear and full, but still real and true—appears to be the teaching of Scripture (Romans 1:21, Romans 1:28) as well as of experience, no man ever requiring to argue himself into a belief in God's existence, though many try to reason themselves out of it.
3. That man may forget God. Moses was afraid lest Israel should be guilty of so doing (Deuteronomy 6:12), in which case they would be no better than the heathen peoples around them (Psalms 9:17). Practically this is the world's sin today (1 John 4:8), and the sin against which Christians have to guard (Hebrews 3:12). It is specially the sin against which young persons should be warned, that of allowing the thought of God to slip out of their minds.
II. REMEMBER: HOW?
1. By thinking of his Person. A characteristic of the wicked is that God is not in all their thoughts (Psalms 10:4); whereas a good man remembers God upon his bed, and meditates upon him in the night watches (Psalms 60:3).
2. By reflecting on his character. The Creator being neither an abstract conception nor an inanimate force, but a living and personal Intelligence, he is also possessed of attributes, the sum of which compose his character or name; and one who would properly remember him must frequently permit his thoughts to dwell on these (Psalms 20:7), as David (Psalms 60:3) and Asaph (Psalms 77:3) did—on his holiness, his loving-kindness, his faithfulness, his truth, his wisdom, his justice, all of which have been revealed in Jesus Christ, and so made much more easily the subjects of study.
3. By acknowledging his goodness. God's bounties in providence and mercies in grace must be equally recalled and thankfully retained before the mind, as David aptly said to himself (Psalms 103:1, Psalms 103:2) and protested before God (Psalms 42:6). One who simply accepts God's daily benefits as the lower animals do, for consumption but not for consideration, is guilty of forgetting God; who knows about, but never pauses to thank God for his unspeakable grace in Christ, comes far short of what is meant by remembering his Creator.
4. By meditating in his Word. Those who lovingly remember God will not forget that he has written to them in the Scriptures words of grace and truth, and will, like the good man of the Hebrew Psalter (Psalms 1:2), meditate therein day and night. Where God's Law, with its wise and holy precepts, is counted as a strange thing (Hosea 8:12), no further proof is needed that God himself is forgotten. The surest evidence that "no man remembered the poor wise man" was found in this, that his wisdom was despised, and his words were not heard (Ecclesiastes 9:16).
5. By keeping his commandments. As Joseph's recollection of Jehovah helped him to resist temptation and avoid sin (Genesis 39:9), so a sincere and loving remembrance of God will show itself in doing those things that are pleasing in his sight. When Christ asked his disciples to remember him, he meant them to do so, not simply by thinking of and speaking about him, or even by celebrating in his honor a memorial feast (Luke 22:19), but also by doing whatsoever he had commanded them (John 15:14).
III. REMEMBER: WHEN? "In the days of thy youth."
1. Not then only. The remembrance of God is a duty which extends along the whole course of life. No age can be exempted from it, as none is unsuitable for it. The notion that religion, while proper enough for childhood or youth, is neither demanded by nor becoming in manhood, is a delusion. The heart-worship and life-service of God and Jesus Christ are incumbent upon, needed by, and honorable to, old as well as young.
2. But then firstly. The reasons will be furnished below; meantime it may be noticed that Scripture writers may be said to be unanimous in recommending early piety; in teaching that youth, above all other periods, is the season for seeking God. Moses (Deuteronomy 31:13), David (Psalms 34:11), Solomon (Proverbs 3:1, Proverbs 3:2), and Jesus (Matthew 6:33) combine to set forth the advantage as well as duty of giving one's early years to God and religion.
IV. REMEMBER: WHY?
1. Why remember one's Creator?
2. Why remember him in the way above specified?
3. Why remember him in youth?
Learn:
1. The real essence of religion—fellowship with God.
2. The dignity of man—that he is capable of such fellowship.
3. The responsibility of youth—for shaping all one's after-life.
4. The evanescence of earthly joys—all doomed to be eclipsed by the darkness of evil days.