Hello, I'm back with the continuation of my previous post,

"Remember your Creator in the days of your youth"...

Our topic today is...

FOUNDATION SET! 12:1

A. Patterns 12:la
1. The author (probably Solomon) recognized how important it was to know the Lord as a young person, he is writing here at the end of his life.

a. The significance of this principle is born out by modern studies which show that with increasing age there is even less of a chance of someone coming to Christ.

b. The percentages for a born again experience decrease with age.

2. The reason for this is obvious; we establish "patterns" in our youth that carry through the rest of our lives, patterns change later with great difficulty.

a. This is why it is so critical that we teach our youth about the Lord, both by word and by example.

b. We are helping to set the foundation for their lives; it is a big head start for them when they have been raised to know the Lord.

3. This is precisely the meaning of one of Solomon's other statements: "train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Prov. 22:6

a. Establishing in them a pattern of righteousness will help them return even if they go through a rebellious stage.

b. It is hard to escape those patterns of youth, good or bad ones!

c. The rewards of walking with God from youth not only come to those who walked with God, but even to those who follow in their family!

ILLUS:

Bill Gaither tell the story of how he and his wife Gloria were able to purchase a piece of land they desired in Indiana shortly afetr they were married.

They were teaching school in his homw town of Alexandria, Indiana and they wanted a land to build a house on. They noticed a parcel of land south of town where cattle grazed, and he learned it belonged to a 92 year retired banker named Mr. Yule. He owned a lot of land in the area and the word was out that he would sell none of it to anyone. The 92 year old banker always gave the same answer to anyone who asked about buying the land, " I promised to let farmers use it for their cattle, can't sell it".

Gloria and he went to the bank where he still went in a few hours a day to work and requested him to consider selling some land to them. The old man looked over his bifocals at Bill Gaither and said strightforwardly, " Ain't selling!" Bill Gaither responded," I know, but we teach school here and thought maybe you'd be interested in selling to someone planning to settle in the area." The old man curiously asked,"What did u say your name was young man?" Bill replied, " Gaither Bill Gaither Sir". The man said, "Hmmm, any relation to Grover Gaither?", "Yes Sir" said Bill, "That was my grandfather"Mr.

Yule then put down his paper and removed his glasses and said, "That's interesting, Grover Gaither was the best worker I ever had on my farm, full day's work for a day's pay, and so honest. What'd you say you wanted yound man?" Bill Gaither again asked about the land and the old man said for him to come back a couple days later, he would think about it. A week later, he went back and the old man said ok--and only $3,800 For 15 Acres! It was worth more than 3 times that. The good name of his granddad had won him that land! A wonderful pattern had been set in his family by an early relative that paid dividents generations later!- Source

4. Establishing these patterns before the demands of adulthood come helps to frame the way we will respond the rest of our life.

a. It is important to give attention to those spiritual dynamics early in life.

b. This builds the frame of reference that we will respond from.