¹⁸ “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

The long list of fourteen indictments against mankind now comes to a close with verse 18. This verse is the end of the quotations that began in verse 10 and show the fallen condition of mankind.

“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Verse 18 is the final quotation and is a quote from Psalm 36:1.

This is the fourteenth indictment against man.

Mankind does not have a heart for God and does not respect God. The word “fear” means reverence for God. This statement is the culmination of hearts separate from God and determined to go their own way. They do not revere the nature, attributes, and work of God.

“Before their eyes” means the eyes of their understanding of things. It is by our eyes that we direct our paths. Man without God gives no consideration of Him in the direction he takes in life. This is the root error of all sin.

The list of sins beginning at verse 10 does not apply to all individuals equally except in principle.

PRINCIPLE:

Man’s motive for not wanting God in his life is that he does not want to be separated from his sin.

APPLICATION:

Godlessness is the motive for the rejection of God. Man’s hardness of heart towards God produces an implacability to reverence God. People know that to embrace God for their lives would mean change in their lives. That is why they fear Him.

Prov 16:6, In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.

Most people do not concern themselves with God’s displeasure. They fear men, failure, and loss but they do not fear God. Most men affirm the existence of God but most also act as if He does not exist. They act without a fear of God’s disapproval. If there is no fear of God, then there is no faith. If we depart from the truth, we will arrive at lies.

Our belief and conduct depend on our reverence of God. When we break our view of God, we break the structure of Christianity.