Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; - Ecclesiastes 12:1
“Thy creator” is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. One cannot remember, worship, nor know one without the other. Our creation, natural and spiritual, is attributed to our triune God. The word, “remember” is to recognize, think upon, and be mindful of. This is what the dying thief had in mind when he asked to be remembered by our Lord. Remembering our God is not a casual thought, but setting him always before us in love, worship, and thanksgiving.
Young men and women, be mindful of him, believe him, and make him your “first love” in the days of thy youth. God is worthy of the first fruits, when our bodies are healthy, our minds are quick, and our souls capable of being enlarged. To delay our commitment to him is ungrateful (for he is the giver of every gift) and foolish (for no person is sure of tomorrow). Youth has many distractions contrary to godliness, many demands upon your time which do not contribute to spiritual growth, and many duties to family and flesh which take you from church fellowship to spend most of your time with carnal people. You must decide which will control your life and walk “In the days of thy youth while the evil days come not.”
The evil days that are sure to come mean the days of old age. They are called the evil days because old age is attended by weakness of body, decay of intellect, and inability to discern or put together the hopes and mysteries of truth. Young people who live their lives without God come to old age with no pleasure in looking back, no joy in present circumstances, and certainly no hope of eternal life. Those who learn the grace of Christ early in life live out their days in peace and die with a good hope of glory (Rev. 14:13).
About Henry Mahan
Henry T. Mahan was born in Birmingham, Alabama in August 1926. He joined the United States Navy in 1944 and served as a signalman on an L.S.T. in the Pacific during World War II. In 1946, he married his wife Doris, and the Lord blessed them with four children.
At the age of 21, he entered the pastoral ministry and gained broad experience as a pastor, teacher, conference speaker, and evangelist. In 1950, through the preaching of evangelist Rolfe Barnard, God was pleased to establish Henry in sovereign free grace teaching. At that time, he was serving as an assistant pastor at Pollard Baptist Church (off of Blackburn ave.) in Ashland, Kentucky.
In 1955, Thirteenth Street Baptist Church was formed in Ashland, Kentucky, and Henry was called to be its pastor. He faithfully served that congregation for more than 50 years, continuing in the same message throughout his ministry. His preaching was centered on the Lord Jesus Christ and Him crucified, in full accord with the Scriptures. He consistently proclaimed God’s sovereign purpose in salvation and the glory of Christ in redeeming sinners through His blood and righteousness.
Henry T. Mahan also traveled widely, preaching in conferences and churches across the United States and beyond. His ministry was marked by a clear and unwavering emphasis on Christ, not the preacher, but the One preached. Those who heard him recognized that his sermons honored the Savior and exalted the name of the Lord Jesus Christ above all.
Henry T. Mahan served as pastor and teacher of Thirteenth Street Baptist Church in Ashland, Kentucky for over half a century. His life and ministry were devoted to proclaiming the sovereign grace of God and directing sinners to the finished work of Christ. He entered into the presence of the Lord in 2019, leaving behind a lasting testimony to the gospel he faithfully preached.
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