One of my all-time favorite shoes is the Nike Air Force 1, especially the all-white low tops. There’s just something about them—every outfit looks better, and you walk with a little more confidence. The only problem? You can’t keep them clean. No matter how hard you try, eventually they lose that fresh, pearly glow.

But here’s the contrast: the fear of the Lord is always clean. The psalmist reminds us that unlike shoes that fade and scuff, when we walk in the fear of the Lord, it remains spotless and endures forever.

I used to have a friend who would pray for me and often close with these words: “And Lord, please keep Heiden close to You and clean before You.” I’ve never forgotten that. Because when I’m close to the Lord and walking clean before Him, I feel more joy, power, and purpose. The fear of the Lord guards us. It assures us that God is near—and that He is Holy, Righteous, Pure, and Good. There’s nothing corrupt or deceptive about Him. He doesn’t stain us—He saves us and sustains us.

If you’re carrying shame, guilt, or defeat from past sins, hear this: by faith in Jesus, you can be washed, forgiven, and made new (1 Corinthians 6:11). His blood cleanses us completely (1 John 1:7). Positionally, we are clean in Christ. Practically, walking in the fear of the Lord helps us stay clean here on earth. It’s like slipping on a pair of Air Force 1s that never crease, never stain, and never fade. That’s the kind of walk the fear of the Lord offers.

“Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” – 2 Corinthians 7:1