Truth looked down from heaven upon the children of men, but found no reflection of itself; for darkness covered the earth, and gross darkness the people. If the darkness of error that hid the glory of God from the view of men was to be dispelled, the light of truth must shine amid the moral darkness of the world. It was decreed in the councils of God that the only-begotten Son of God must leave His high command in heaven, and clothe His divinity with humanity, and come to the world. No outward splendor must attend His steps, save that of virtue, mercy, goodness, and truth; for He was to represent to the world the attributes of God’s character; but the world, unaccustomed to gaze upon truth, turned from the light to the darkness of error; for error was more to their perverted taste than truth (The Review and Herald, August 6, 1895).{4BC 1153.5}

Sandhed så ned fra himlen på menneskebørnene, men fandt sig ikke genspejlet; for mørke dækkede jorden, og tykt mørke folket. Hvis vildfarelsens mørke som skjulte Guds herlighed fra menneskenes øjesyn skulle spredes, sandhedens lys måtte skinne iblandt verdens moralske mørke. Det var dekreteret i Guds rådssamlinger at Guds enbårne søn måtte forlade Sin høje rang i himlen, og iklæde Sin guddommelighed med menneskelighed, og komme til verden. Ikke ydre glans fulgte i Hans spor, end den dydighed, barmhjertighed, godhed og sandhed; for Han skulle repræsentere verden for Guds karakters egenskaber; men verden, der ikke var vandt til at se sandheden, vendte sig fra lyset til vildfarelsens mørke; for vildfarelse var mere for deres forvanskede smag end sandhed var (RH Aug. 6, 1895).