The professed followers of Christ are on trial before the heavenly universe; but the coldness of their zeal and the feebleness of their efforts in God's service mark them as unfaithful. If what they are doing were the best they could do, condemnation would not rest upon them; but were their hearts enlisted in the work, they could do much more. 304 They know and the world knows that they have to a great degree lost the spirit of self-denial and cross bearing. Many there are against whose names will be found written in the books of heaven, Not producers, but consumers. By many who bear Christ's name, His glory is obscured, His beauty veiled, His honor withheld.

De, der bekender sig til at følge Kristus, er på prøve overfor den himmelske verden, men deres lunkenhed og mangel på nidkærhed i Gudstjeneste viser at de er utro. Hvis det, de udfører var det bedste, de formåede, ville der ikke hvile nogen fordømmelse over dem; men hvis deres hjerter var med i gerningen, kunne de gøre meget mere. Både de og verden ved, at de for en stor del har mistet selvforsagelsens ånd og ikke vil tage korset op. Der er mange, ved hvis navne der vil blive skrevet i Himmelens bøger: "Bærer ikke frugt, nyder kun goderne." Mange, der bærer Kristi navn, fordunkler kun hans herlighed, tilslører hans skønhed og undlader at ære ham.