Poet Francis Quarles (1592-1644) wrote, “For toys we often sell our heaven and our crown.”

It seems that the world offers many would-be inheritors of the kingdom of heaven a pearl that they are unable to resist. Throughout its history, the church has always struggled to overcome the pollution that the spirit of the world brings to the people of God. It can strike any of us, knows our individual weakness and the danger zones that differ in each of us. Jesus warns, “Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15).

Was it our rebellion and the loss of the security of God's presence that made us so vulnerable to those toys of the world? Do we really think that we can find peace and happiness in what the world offers?

The Apostle Peter in his second letter gives us the only escape from this corruption: Christ's divine power which “… has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires” (2 Peter 1:3-4). Hallelujah!

Major Bill Kean is the corps officer in beautiful Triton, NL. His weekly coffee doodles complement his passion for preaching and teaching.