Withering Grass vs. Wonderful Grace

“The LORD looked down… to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.  They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Psalm 14:2,3).  “Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.  There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand” (Proverbs 19:20,21).  “Surely the people is grass.  The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.  O Zion, that bringest good tidings… say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!” (Isaiah 40:7-9).  “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1). 

The Lord looked down from heaven’s height

To see if any understood,
To see if any in His sight
Would seek for God and do what’s good. 

Alas, they all are gone aside!

Not even one is so inclined
To turn to God before they’ve died
Among the souls of all mankind.

Except our gracious Lord had cherished  

Our souls, it would have come to pass
That we forever would have perished
When we had withered as the grass.

But God has given us His Word

And has reproved us by His Spirit,
So we by grace may thus be stirred
To heed His Gospel when we hear it.

The grass shall wither, flowers fade,

But counsel from our God shall stand,
Yet many foolishly will trade
The Rock of truth for shifting sand.

God’s Spirit thus has testified

That there would surely be seduction
Deceiving some who have denied  
The Gospel to their own destruction. 

O Lord, we’re debtors to Your grace!

How graciously You thus extend
The Word of God where we may trace
Such wisdom for our latter end! 

O Lord, as grass, our days are few;

How short time is after birth!
Yet we entrust our souls to You,
The Lord of heaven and of earth. 

Until we stand on heaven’s shore,

Thus gathered with Your children there,
Lord, use us now to gather more
With wondrous grace that we declare.