A Painful but Necessary Process—By the mighty cleaver of truth God has brought His people, as rough stones, from the quarry of the world. These stones must be squared and polished. The rough edges must be removed. This is a painful process; but it is a necessary one. Without it, we could not be prepared for a place in God’s temple. By trial, by warnings, by admonitions, God seeks to prepare us to fulfill His purpose. If we cooperate with Him, our characters will be fashioned “after the similitude of a palace.” It is the specified work of the Comforter to transform us. At times it is hard for us to submit to the purifying, refining process. But this we must do if we would be saved at last (Letter 139, 1903).{3BC 1154.4}

En smertefuld men nødvendig proces. - Ved den mægtige sandhedskløver har Gud bragt Sit folk, som rå stene, fra verdens stenbrud. Disse stene må slibes og poleres. De rå hjørner må fjernes. Dette er en smertelig proces; men det er nødvendigt. Uden dette, vil vi ikke være parat til et sted i Guds tempel. Ved prøvelser, ved advarsler, ved formeninger, prøver Gud at forberede os til at opfylde Hans fortsæt. Hvis vi samarbejder med Ham, vil vor karakter formes ”efter paladsets billede.” Det er Trøstermandens særlige arbejde at forvandle os. Nogle gange er det vanskeligt for os at underlægge os den rensende, og forædlende proces. Men dette må vi gøre, hvis vi vil frelses til sidst (Brev 139, 1903).