A parable.

There once was a world of glass houses and tidy roads. The houses were kept neat and clean, the glass was never smudged or spotted with dirt. The roads were kept organized and clear of obstacles, arranged in such a way that travelers could easily get from house to house.

In this world, bulldozers were used to tend the roads. They carefully plowed obstacles out of the way or dug out new roads when new houses went up. They were designed for this work, and they did their work well.

One day, something happened. The bulldozers started doing their own thing. They dug roads all over the place – circular roads, zigzag roads, roads crossing other roads without warning, some roads were even dug through the middle of the glass houses. The bulldozers made a mess of things.

Now, none of the bulldozers had broken down, per se. They were able to do the work they were created for: digging roads and moving obstacles. They continued to be very good at digging roads, but not the roads they were supposed to dig. Some observers might say the bulldozers were very good bulldozers, look at those roads! Other observers might say the bulldozers were quite capable, though flawed. But the people living in the glass houses increasingly held one opinion about the bulldozers: they are totally deranged. It did not matter that the bulldozers were able to dig roads. If they could not dig the right roads, all their work was folly. The bulldozers totally failed to fulfill the purpose for which they were created.

Human beings were created for the purpose of glorifying God. We were given many abilities and talents to use for the glory of God. But since the fall, the vast majority of mankind has pursued everything except the glory of God. It does not matter that mankind continues to be able to use those abilities and talents we were given; if we do not use them for God’s glory, they are used for folly. We are totally deranged and totally fail if we do not pursue our purpose of glorifying God. Fallen man is totally depraved, even if some observers are tempted to say, “Men are very good, just look at what we can do!” Or, “We are good, but with flaws.” Or even, “We are somewhat sinful but kind of good, just look at the range of our actions!” If our actions do not spring from faith exercised for the glory of God, then our actions are absolutely not good. Apart from the saving and regenerating grace of God, we are totally depraved.