Satan Had Access Despite Closed Avenues—John did not feel strong enough to stand the great pressure of temptation he would meet in society. He feared his character would be molded according to the prevailing customs of the Jews, and he chose the wilderness as his school, in which his mind could be properly educated and disciplined from God’s great book of nature. In the wilderness, John could the more readily deny himself and bring his appetite under control, and dress in accordance to natural simplicity. And there was nothing in the wilderness that would take his mind from meditation and prayer. Satan had access to John, even after he had closed every avenue in his power through which he would enter. But his habits of life were so pure and natural that he could discern the foe, and had strength of spirit and decision of character to resist him.{5BC 1115.4}

Satan fik adgang trods lukkede adgangsveje.--Johannes følte sig ikke stærk nok til at modstå den store fristelse han ville møde i samfundet. Han frygtede at hans karakter ville formes efter jødernes fremherskende skikke, og han valgte ørknen som sin skole, hvor hans sind kunne oplæres rigtigt, og disciplineres fra Guds store naturbog. I ørknen, kunne Johannes hurtigere fornægte sig selv, og bringe sin appetit under kontrol, og klæde sig efter naturlig enkelhed. Og der var intet i ørknen som ville tage hans tanker fra meditation og bøn. Satan havde ikke adgang til Johannes, heller efter at han havde lukket alle adgangsveje der var i hans kraft at lukke, som han kunne slippe ind af. Men hans livsvaner var så rene og naturlige at han kunne se fjenden, og havde åndelig styrke og karakterfasthed til at modstå ham.