A crane was wading in a stream and looking for snails to eat when a beautiful swan landed nearby. The crane had never seen a swan before, so he asked, "What are you?"

"I'm a swan," came the reply.

"And where did you come from?" the crane inquired.

"Heaven," the swan answered, and he eagerly spoke of a city of pure gold with jasper walls and pearly gates.

At that point the crane interrupted, "Tell me, are there snails in heaven?"

"No, I'm afraid not," the swan said.

"Then I don't care to go there," the crane stated decisively. "I like snails!"

Some people think like the crane in this old fable. They are so enamored by earthly possessions that they fail to appreciate the eternal riches of Christ and all He offers. Like the rich young ruler in Mark 10, they foolishly choose the things of earth instead of the wonderful realities of heaven.

If you have never trusted Christ for salvation, it may be that some temporal pleasure or possession is standing in your way. Don't allow anything to keep you from coming to the Savior. And after you have placed your faith in Him, "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:2). Compared to the glories of heaven, the best things of this world are but snails!  —RWD  — Richard De Haan