The earth is the LORD's and the fulness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein; for he has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the rivers.
Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false, and does not swear deceitfully.
He will receive blessing from the LORD, and vindication from the God of his salvation.
Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. [Selah]
-- Psalms 24: 1 - 6
The whole world before thee is like a speck that tips the scales, and like a drop of morning dew that falls upon the ground.
But thou art merciful to all, for thou canst do all things, and thou dost overlook men's sins, that they may repent. For thou lovest all things that exist, and hast loathing for none of the things which thou hast made, for thou wouldst not have made anything if thou hadst hated it.
How would anything have endured if thou hadst not willed it? Or how would anything not called forth by thee have been preserved?
Thou sparest all things, for they are thine, O Lord who lovest the living.
-- Wisdom 11: 22 - 26
We will not Fear
Therefore we will not fear though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. [Selah]
God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God will help her right early.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.
Come, behold the works of the LORD, how he has wrought desolations in the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear, he burns the chariots with fire!
-- Psalms 46: 2 - 3, 5 - 6, 8 - 9
Living in the World
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If any one loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides for ever (1 John 2:15-17).
Live in the world as if only God and your soul were alone in it. Then your heart will never be made captive by anything earthly thing (St. John of the Cross).
While still in this world, we must wholeheartedly repent of sins committed in the body and make it possible for the Lord to save us while there is time. When we have left this world, we shall no longer be able to repent and confess our sins. We must do the will of the Father, keep our bodies pure, and observe the commandments of the Lord, for this is the way to obtain eternal life. -- Sermon of the second century
