THE MANDATE OF THE MORNING: 2026
REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR
MESSAGE BY: PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE
BIBLE READING: MARK 11:12–20
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: JUDGES 14–16
HYMN: 7 – I AM THINE, O LORD
MEMORISE: “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)
I. THE SOVEREIGNTY OF DIVINE TIMING
As we stand on this Wednesday, March 18th, 2026, the world is moving at a pace faster than any previous generation could have imagined. We live in a society obsessed with “seasons”—seasons for education, seasons for career building, and seasons for retirement. However, when we look at the life of our Lord Jesus Christ, we see a different perspective on time.
In our Bible reading from Mark 11:12–20, we encounter a story that has puzzled many scholars: the cursing of the fig tree. Jesus was hungry and approached a tree that was full of leaves, but found no fruit. The scripture adds a curious detail: “for the time of figs was not yet” (Mark 11:13).
Human logic asks: “If it wasn’t the season for figs, why did Jesus expect the tree to be productive?”
The lesson here is profound: God’s time is always the right time. In the Kingdom of God, productivity is not dictated by the calendar of man but by the demand of the Creator. If the Sovereign God wakes you up at 3:00 AM or 4:00 AM to pray, it is useless to argue that it is “too early.” If He demands a sacrifice in a season of lack, it is because He is the Lord of the Harvest. Everything was created for His pleasure (Revelation 4:11), and when the Creator shows up, the creation must be ready to deliver.
II. THE MYTH OF “LATER”: WHY THE YOUTH MUST ACT NOW
The primary focus of our meditation today is the “Morning of Life”—the days of your youth. The Preacher in Ecclesiastes 12:1 gives a command that carries a sense of extreme urgency: “Remember NOW thy Creator…”
The greatest deception the enemy uses against young people in 2026 is the idea that they have “plenty of time.” The world tells the youth: “Enjoy your life now; sow your wild oats; explore your sins; you can serve God when you are older and tired.” This is a lie from the pit of hell.
1. The Advantage of Fervency
God wants your heart while it is still supple, your mind while it is still sharp, and your body while it is still strong. He wants you to be “fervent in spirit, serving the Lord” (Romans 12:11). When you seek God early, you find Him with a clarity that is often clouded by the regrets of a wasted life in later years (Proverbs 8:17).
2. Avoiding the “Evil Days”
The Bible warns that “evil days” are coming—years where physical strength fades and the pleasures of the world turn to ashes. If you wait until you are old to “remember” God, you are bringing Him the leftovers of a life spent on the altar of self. While God in His mercy can still save a man at the eleventh hour, he can never regain the decades of fruitfulness he could have offered his King.
III. THE ANATOMY OF FRUITFULNESS
The fig tree in Mark 11 had “leaves” but no “fruit.” In 2026, many young people have the “leaves” of religion. They have the Christian vocabulary, the church attendance, and the outward appearance of holiness, but when the Lord comes hungry for a soul won for the Kingdom, a life of consecration, or a heart of worship, He finds nothing.
1. Productivity is a Command
In Genesis 1:28, the first command given to man was to “be fruitful and multiply.” This is not just about biological reproduction; it is about spiritual impact. You were created to reveal His glory. A life without fruit is a life that is out of alignment with its purpose.
2. The John 15 Connection
How can a young person stay fruitful in a world filled with the “weeds” of social media distraction and ungodly peer pressure? Jesus gives the secret in John 15:4–5: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” You cannot be fruitful by your own willpower. You must cultivate a vibrant, daily relationship with the Lord. You must “remember” Him not as a distant historical figure, but as the living Vine who provides the sap of grace for your daily life.
IV. COMPREHENSIVE Q&A: SEEKING GOD IN THE MODERN AGE
Q1: I am already in my 40s or 50s; have I missed the window to ‘Remember my Creator’?
Answer: While the text emphasizes youth, God is the Redeemer of time. If you missed the “morning,” do not waste the “afternoon.” Dedicate the rest of your life to Him today. He can take your remaining years and beautify them with His glory, making your “latter end” greater than your beginning.
Q2: How do I ‘Remember God’ when my university or workplace is strictly secular?
Answer: Remembering God isn’t just about thinking of Him; it’s about acknowledging Him in all your ways (Proverbs 3:6). It means bringing His principles into your studies, your business deals, and your relationships. It means being like Daniel in Babylon—excellent in your work because you are serving a higher King.
Q3: Why was the fig tree cursed if it wasn’t the season for figs?
Answer: Spiritually, the fig tree represents the nation of Israel and, by extension, any believer who has the “outward show” of leaves but no “inward substance” of fruit. The curse was a prophetic sign that religious hypocrisy without spiritual life will eventually dry up from the roots. God values reality over appearance.
V. REFLECTION & PROPHETIC PRAYER
KEY POINT: Your youth is a seed; where you plant it determines your eternal harvest.
PROPHETIC DECREE FOR MARCH 18TH:
I decree over every young person reading this: your strength shall not be wasted on the altar of sin! Your brilliance shall not be consumed by unimportant things. Like a tree planted by the rivers of water, you shall be fruitful even in seasons when others are dry. The glory of the Lord shall be seen upon you in your youth, and you shall not be a “bad reference” to your generation, in Jesus’ Name!
PRAYER POINTS:
Consecration: Father, I thank You for my life. Today, I surrender my heart, my youth, and my future to You. Draw me nearer to the cross where You died.
Fruitfulness: Lord, deliver me from the ‘leaf-only’ lifestyle. I refuse to be a religious hypocrite. Make me productive for Your Kingdom now, in the morning of my years.
Spiritual Fervency: Father, fire me up! Let me not be lukewarm. Help me to serve You with all my might, soul, and strength.
Redemption of Time: For those who have wasted years, O Lord, intervene! Redeem their time and help them to dedicate their remaining days to Your service.
Wisdom for the Youth: Father, give our young people the wisdom to seek You early. Protect them from the distractions of 2026 and keep them focused on their Creator.
