The Withered Flower 

{Psalms Chapter 14}

"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good"

"The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, 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"

"Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? Who eat up my people as they eat bread and call not upon the Lord"

"There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous"

"Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor; because the Lord is his refuge"

"Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When the Lord bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice and Israel shall be glad"

What happens when men are hardened in their heart?

{1} They are blinded, meaning they are incapable of seeing or understanding the plainest truth.

{2} Their heart is darkened, no light can get in.

{3} They become vain in their reasoning. Their way is the only truth.

In verse one, it speaks of a fool who says, "There is no God". The word fool here is not a single individual, but the whole rebellious race of Adam. God, who is looking down, knows the good, he is quick to discern it and would be delighted to find it. God seeks to find any that understands themselves. One who understands their state of being, their duty in life, their divine destiny, their happiness and their God given purpose. He looks for any that would seek him and who are willing and anxious to find him. There are those who reject even the very mention of God. In Isaiah 28:1, it says, "Woe to the crown of pride whose glorious beauty is a fading flower". When I studied this chapter in Psalms and seen the reference in Isaiah, it really spoke to my heart. The picture today shows a flower which is bending over. It is a plant that has lost all  that juice flowing that made it lovely and useful. When we are born, God gives us life. Like the flower, life is flowing and life is beautiful. Then comes a time when we get to choose what we believe and the way we want to live our life. For those who choose to believe there is no God, are just like this withered flower. There is nothing inside that person that would make them useful to the Lord. Their works are all in vain. As long as they choose to believe there is no God, they are like a flower that will soon fade. Each petal drops slowly to the ground, without hope, without joy, without peace and the saddest of all, without God. We know God has a people that will serve him with all their hearts. One day all of Zion will rejoice because the chosen and the faithful will give God the praise and glory for ever and ever. No longer will God's name be rejected, abused and put down, He will forever reign and those who proclaim him Lord of their life here, will one day rule and reign with him in heaven. PRAISE GOD FOREVER and FOREVER!