Don't Forget to Remember

Remember

Ecclesiastes 11-12

Have you ever noticed how certain songs can instantly transport you back in time? Maybe it's "Sweet Caroline" at a baseball game, or your wedding song, or even that tune your mom used to hum while making breakfast. Music has this incredible power to trigger memory—to make us remember not just events, but emotions, people, and moments that shaped us.

Athletes understand the power of remembering too. Before every game, championship teams often have rituals—they remember their training, their why, their identity. Michael Jordan famously kept a list of every slight, every doubt, every person who said he couldn't do something. He used memory as fuel. Tom Brady would visualize past victories before big games, remembering what it felt like to succeed under pressure.

These aren't just nostalgic moments—they're strategic. Remembering shapes how we move forward.

As we come to the final chapters of Ecclesiastes, Solomon—after taking us on this raw, honest journey through life's meaninglessness—doesn't end with despair. He ends with a call to remember. After 11 chapters of "vanity of vanities," he pivots to what matters most. His conclusion isn't philosophical—it's intensely practical.

Solomon has been our tour guide through the University of Life, showing us that wealth, pleasure, wisdom, and even hard work can feel empty when they become ends in themselves. But now, as an old man looking back, he offers us four crucial things to remember that can anchor our lives with lasting meaning.

Big Idea: Life has lasting meaning when we remember what matters most—our Creator who made us, our Savior who redeemed us, and His call to love.

Let's dive into these final chapters:

A. Remember your Creator (Ecclesiastes 11:9-10; 12:1)

Ecclesiastes 11:9–10 NIV

9 You who are young, be happy while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. 10 So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless.

God is the source of our strength and abilities. Enjoy them, but realize:

1. Our well-being is rooted in His design.

There will be accountability for what we do and who we become.

Solomon starts with a paradox that might surprise you. He tells young people to enjoy life—to follow their hearts and pursue what brings them joy. But there's a crucial "but" in verse 9: "but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment."

This isn't God trying to ruin your fun. This is Solomon saying, "Live fully, but live accountable. Enjoy deeply, but remember who gave you the capacity for enjoyment in the first place."

The phrase "Remember your Creator" in Hebrew carries the idea of being mindful, of keeping God at the forefront of your thinking. It's not just intellectual acknowledgment—it's living with the awareness that every breath, every sunrise, every relationship, every opportunity is a gift from the One who spoke everything into existence.

Ecclesiastes 12:1 NIV

1 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”—

IN the next section, there is a poetic description of getting old. It’s actually very creative and artistic. It engages us on the intellectual, but also the creative and emotional side.

Why does Solomon emphasize remembering God in youth? Because that's when we feel most invincible, most self-sufficient. Youth often comes with the illusion that we have endless time and unlimited energy. But Solomon, writing as an old man, knows better.

Think about it—when do you most need to remember where your car keys are? When you're rushing out the door. When do you most need to remember your anniversary? When life gets busy with a hecktic job and three little kids and a mortgage. When do you most need to remember your Creator? When you feel like you're in control of everything.

A commentator wrote, "We don't naturally drift toward God—we drift away from Him." That's why remembering requires intentionality.

I've noticed something in my own life and in ministry—the people who seem to navigate life's ups and downs with the most stability are those who have cultivated a practice of remembering God's character, His goodness, His faithfulness, even in ordinary moments.

Psalm 139:13–14 NIV

13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

The God who created you knew you before you took your first breath. He designed your personality, your gifts, your passions. When we remember our Creator, we remember our identity—we are not accidents or products of chance, but beloved creations with purpose.

Ecclesiastes 12:7–8 NIV

7 and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. 8 “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Everything is meaningless!”

This is a reference back to the creation story— Adam was created from the dirt of the ground— with the BREATH of God’s spirit breathed into him:

Genesis 2:7 NIV

7 Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

I love the phrase God uses when he dismisses Adam from the garden also: Genesis 3:19

Genesis 3:19 NIV

19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

But remembering our Creator is just the beginning...

B. Obey His commands (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

Ecclesiastes 12:13 NIV

13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.

After 11 excruciating chapters of wrestling with life's complexities, Solomon's conclusion is remarkably simple: Fear God and keep His commandments.

When he says "fear God," he's not talking about cowering in terror. The Hebrew word "yare" means reverent awe—the kind of respect you have for something powerful and magnificent. It's like standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon or watching a thunderstorm roll in. You're not terrified, but you're profoundly aware of encountering something far greater than yourself.

And when Solomon says "keep his commandments," he's pointing us to the moral framework that God has given for human flourishing. The Ten Commandments aren't arbitrary rules designed to limit our fun—they're wisdom for living in right relationship with God and others.

1. God’s commands are roadmaps, not roadblocks.

Let's think practically about this:

The First Four Commandments deal with our relationship with God:

No other gods before Him (What do you turn to when life gets hard?)

No idols (What do you worship that isn't God?)

Don't take His name in vain (How do you speak about and to God?)

Remember the Sabbath (Do you create space to rest and remember?)

The Last Six Commandments deal with our relationships with others:

Honor your parents (How do we treat those who gave us life?)

Don't murder (How do we value and protect life?)

Don't commit adultery (How do we honor the covenant of marriage?)

Don't steal (How do we respect others' property and work?)

Don't lie (How do we speak truth in our relationships?)

Don't covet (How do we find contentment with what we have?)

Notice something beautiful—these aren't just rules to follow, they're pathways to the meaningful relationships we talked about in chapter 4. They create the foundation for trust, respect, and love in community.

Matthew 5:17 NIV

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

But here's where we need to be careful. The commandments show us God's standard, but they also show us our need.

2. The commandments reveal both God’s standard, and our need.

None of us keeps them perfectly. That's not their only purpose—they also point us to our need for something more, someone greater...

All have fallen short of God’s perfect Law. Ultimately, Solomon could have only dreamed of what God would do some 1000 years later with the coming of Jesus. Solomon lived centuries before Jesus, but the wisdom of Ecclesiastes finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ. Where Solomon found meaninglessness "under the sun," Jesus offers meaning that comes from above the sun—from heaven itself. This is where the presence of Jesus in the storyline changes everything!

C. Remember your Redeemer

Remember, Solomon had everything—wealth, wisdom, power, pleasure—and still found it empty. But Jesus, who had access to all the riches of heaven, chose to become poor for our sake. He experienced the ultimate meaninglessness—taking on our sin and separation from God—so that we could experience ultimate meaning in relationship with Him.

2 Corinthians 8:9 NIV

9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

Think about it—every struggle Solomon wrestled with in Ecclesiastes, Jesus faced and conquered:

1. Jesus entered our emptiness to give us meaning:

Injustice and oppression (Eccl 4:1)

Jesus didn't just observe the tears of the oppressed—He became oppressed Himself, falsely accused, beaten, and crucified. But through His death and resurrection, He promises ultimate justice and comfort.

The problem of time (Eccl 3:1-8)

Jesus entered time as a baby, lived within time's constraints as a man, but conquered time through His resurrection. He offers us eternal life that transcends the frustrations of temporal existence.

Empty accomplishment (Eccl 2:11)

Jesus accomplished the greatest work in history—our salvation—not for His own glory but for ours. His work gives meaning to all our work.

The certainty of death (Eccl 9:5)

Jesus died our death and rose again, promising that for those who believe, death is not the end but the doorway to eternal life.

John 10:10 NIV

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

When we remember our Savior, we remember that the meaninglessness Solomon felt "under the sun" has been transformed by the One who is the Light of the World. Our lives have meaning not because of what we accomplish, but because of what Christ has accomplished for us.

The gospel doesn't eliminate life's struggles, but it reframes them. Our work matters because we work for Christ. Our relationships matter because we love as Christ loved us. Our suffering has purpose because we share in Christ's sufferings. Our joy is multiplied because we share in Christ's resurrection life.

2. Where Solomon found vanity, Jesus brings victory!

But there's one more crucial thing to remember...

We need to Remember our Creator, and respect his commands— we will worship and remember our Redeemer Jesus— but we need to remember HIS command as well:

D. Remember

How can remembering our Creator influence our daily decision-making and priorities?

the greatest command

Matthew 22:37–39 NIV

37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Jesus didn't abolish the Ten Commandments—He fulfilled them by showing us the heart of the command. Love for God and love for neighbor. This is how we live out what Solomon discovered: that life finds its meaning in relationship with our Creator and in deep, authentic community with others.

Remember back in Ecclesiastes 4 where Solomon said "Two are better than one"? The Greatest Commandment shows us how to live that out practically:

Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind means:

With your heart: Your affections, your desires, your emotions centered on God

With your soul: Your will, your choices, your life direction submitted to God

With your mind: Your thoughts, your reasoning, your intellect engaged with God's truth

Love your neighbor as yourself means:

Seeing others as image-bearers of God

Treating others with the same care we naturally give ourselves

Laying down our lives in service to others, just as Christ laid down His life for us

This isn't just a nice ideal—it's intensely practical. When we love God supremely, it transforms how we love others. When we love others genuinely, it demonstrates our love for God.

1. Love transforms ordinary moments into extraordinary purpose!

1 John 4:20–21 NIV

20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

Think about your daily life—your family, your workplace, your neighborhood, this church. The Greatest Commandment transforms ordinary moments into opportunities for extraordinary love.

When you're stuck in traffic, you can choose to love your neighbor by showing patience. When your spouse is having a difficult day, you can choose to love them with the same grace God shows you. When a coworker is struggling, you can choose to love your neighbor by offering help.

This is how we live meaningfully in what Solomon called a meaningless world. Not by escaping the world, but by bringing God's love into every corner of it.

2. Vertical love enables and directs horizontal love.

Vertical purpose, horizontal purpose—

Meaning above the SUN— creates meaning UNDER the sun!

Conclusion: The Power of Remembering

Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 NIV

13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.

Solomon ends where he began—with the reality that we will all stand before God. But now, instead of feeling like a threat, this feels like hope. Because of Jesus, we can stand before God not in fear of condemnation, but in confidence of His love.

When we remember our Creator, we remember our identity and purpose. When we obey His commands, we live in the wisdom He's provided for human flourishing. When we remember our Savior, we find meaning that transcends circumstances. When we remember His command to love, we discover the relational life we were created for.

Life still has its seasons of frustration and confusion. We'll still wrestle with questions about purpose and meaning. But we don't wrestle alone, and we don't wrestle without hope.

I want to challenge you this week: What needs to be remembered in your life right now?

Maybe you need to remember that you're not an accident—you're a beloved creation of God with unique gifts and purpose. Maybe you need to remember that God's commands aren't burdens but pathways to blessing. Maybe you need to remember that Jesus has already accomplished what you're trying to earn through your own efforts. Maybe you need to remember that love—for God and neighbor—is what transforms ordinary life into extraordinary purpose.

Don't wait until you're old like Solomon to remember what matters most. Remember now. Remember today. Remember that your Creator loves you, your Savior has redeemed you, and His command to love gives meaning to every moment of your life.

As we close, let's pray that God would help us remember not just in our minds, but in our hearts and in our daily choices. Because when we remember what matters most, we discover that life is not meaningless after all—it's full of meaning, full of purpose, full of love.

The Memorial Stone Metaphor

Setup: "In the Old Testament, whenever God's people experienced something significant—a victory, a miracle, God's faithfulness—they would stack stones to create a memorial. These weren't just random rocks; they were intentional reminders. When their children would ask, 'What do these stones mean?' the parents would tell the story of God's goodness.

Application: Solomon is essentially telling us to build four memorial stones in our hearts:

Stone 1: Remember your Creator - This stone says, 'God made me with purpose

Stone 2: Obey His commands - This stone says, 'God's way leads to life'

Stone 3: Remember our Savior - This stone says, 'Jesus conquered my emptiness'

Stone 4: Remember His command to love - This stone says, 'Love gives life meaning'

The Powerful Close: 'Life will try to knock these memorial stones down.

Disappointment will whisper, 'You're not that important.'

Temptation will suggest, 'God's rules don't matter.'

Depression will lie, 'Jesus can't help your situation.'

Selfishness will argue, 'Just look out for yourself.'

But when we remember—when we look at these four stones we've built in our hearts—we remember the truth.

We remember who we are, whose we are, what Christ has done, and how we're called to love.

Final Challenge: Some of you need to stack your first stone today. Others need to rebuild stones that have been knocked down by life's storms. But all of us need to keep building, keep remembering, because when we do, we discover what Solomon learned: life isn't meaningless after all—it's full of the meaning that comes from the God who never forgets us."

Let's pray.