Romans 3:18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
God is holy; we are not. He is filled with glory; we fall short. God remains sovereign; we depend on him for every breath we take. He stands worthy of all praise and honor. We “jolly beggars” (as CS Lewis puts it), fall prostrate at his crucified feet.
Why has the world gone haywire?
It has lost its fear of God. And the greater the number of people who reject his Lordship, the more haywire-ish it becomes.
The Apostle Paul quotes Psalm 36 in describing the human condition. Without a fear of God, we don’t seek him, and when we don’t seek him, we create our own version of right and wrong. The results: conceit, deception and lives of godlessness. Confusion, bitterness and violence replace love, truth and lives worth living. Truly, there’s nothing new under the sun…. even in 2026.
Yet, despite the brokenness in the world, despite the brokenness within each of us, God still cheers us on. After describing the sad state of those who reject God, the psalmist proclaims God’s steadfast love. “How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings” (Psalm 36:7). His love for us never, ever wavers. He offers light to all who seek it. Hope to all who want a drink from the “fountain of life” (v.9).
Maybe you’re familiar with the saying, “Even broken crayons still color.” I have a tin of broken crayons in the attic. Crayons that have been there since our kids used them. I pull them out now when our grandkids visit. And you know what. They still fulfill the purpose they were designed for. The magenta persists in being magenta. The cornflower in being blue, the goldenrod as a shining yellow. So how could I throw them out?
And we are worth far more than broken crayons.
I’m so grateful God doesn’t give up on us in our broken state. He offers a lifeline of steadfast love to all who acknowledge their need for him. And cords of grace and mercy to us fallen ones in the midst of a world gone haywire.
Such knowledge draws me to worship our holy God with reverent fear.