This is no theme to be treated with a smile. The heart that loves Jesus will not desire the unlawful affections of another. Every want is supplied in Christ. This superficial affection is of the same character as that exalted enjoyment which Satan promised Eve. It is coveting that which God has forbidden. When it is too late hundreds can warn others not to venture upon the precipice. Intellect, position, wealth can never, never take the place of moral qualities. Clean hands, a pure heart, and noble, earnest devotion to God and the truth the Lord esteems above the golden wedge of Ophir. An evil influence has a perpetuating power. I wish I could set this matter before God’s commandment-keeping people just as it has been shown me. Let the sad memory of Solomon’s apostasy warn every soul to shun the same precipice. His weakness and sin are handed down from generation to generation. The greatest king that ever wielded a scepter, of whom it had been said that he was the beloved of God, through misplaced affection became contaminated and was miserably forsaken of his God. The mightiest ruler of the earth had failed to rule his own passions. Solomon may have been saved “as by fire,” yet his repentance could not efface those high places, nor demolish those stones, which remained as evidences of his crimes. He dishonored God, choosing rather to be controlled by lust than to be a partaker of the divine nature. What a legacy Solomon’s life has committed to those who would use his example to cover their own base actions. We must either transmit a heritage of good or evil. Shall our lives and our example be a blessing or a curse? Shall people look at our graves and say, He ruined me, or, He saved me? ...{2BC 1031.5}

Dette er ikke et emne man skal lade hånt om. Det hjerte der elsker Jesus ville ikke ønske andres ulovlige hengivenhed. Enhver mangel dække i Kristus. Denne overfladiske hengivenhed er af samme karakter som den ophøjede nydelse om Satan lovede Eva. Det dækker over det som Gud har forbudt. Når det er for sent kan hundredvis advare andre om at ikke vove sig ud på afgrunden. Forstand, position, rigdom kan aldrig, aldrig gå i stedet for moralske egenskaber. Rene hænder, et rent hjerte, og ædel alvorlig hellige mod Gud og Herrens sandhed overgår Ofirs guld. En ond indflydelse har en forevigende kraft. Jeg ønsker at jeg kunne sætte denne sag frem for Guds lovlydige folk, præcis sådan det er vist mig. Lad den sørge erindring om Salomons frafald advare enhver sjæl til at afsky den samme afgrund. Hans svaghed og synd er går ned i generation efter generation. Den største konge der nogen sinde har ført et scepter, som det er blevet sagt at han var Guds elskede mand, skønt han fejlplacerede hengivenhed, blev besmittet og sørgelig forladt af sin Gud. Den mægtige hersker på jorden havde fejlet og ikke behersker sine egne lidenskaber. Salomon kunne være blevet frelst ”som med ild,” alligevel kan hans anger ikke udviske disse høje steder, eller demoralisere de sten, som med ild forblev som vidnesbyrd for hans forbrydelser. Han vanærede Gud, valgte hellere at blive kontrolleret af lyst, end at få del i guddommelig natur. Hvilken en arv har Salomons liv ikke overbragt til dem, som vil bruge hans liv som eksempel, til at dække over deres egne nedrige handlinger. Vi kan enten overføre en arv til godt eller ondt. Skal vore liv og vort eksempel være en velsignelse eller en forbandelse? Skal folk se på vore grave og sige: Han har ruineret mig, eller Han redde mig? . . .