The young, as well as those who are older, will be required to give a reason for their hope. But the mind, designed by God for better things, formed to serve Him perfectly, has dwelt upon foolish things, instead of eternal interests. That mind which is left to wander here and there is just as well able to understand the truth, the evidence from the word of God for keeping the Sabbath, and the true foundation of the Christian’s hope, as to study the appearance, the manners, the dress, etc. And those who give up the mind to be diverted with foolish stories and idle tales, have the imagination fed, but the brilliancy of God’s word is eclipsed to them. The mind is led directly from God. The interest in His precious word is destroyed. {1T 125.2}

De unge såvel som de, der er ældre, vil blive afkrævet regnskab for deres håb. Men sindet, som af Gud var bestemt til noget bedre, dannet til at tjene ham fuldkomment, har dvælet ved tåbelige ting i stedet for ved evige interesser. Det sind, der får lov til at vandre hid og did, er lige så vel i stand til at forstå sandheden, forstå Guds ords beviser for sabbatens helligholdelse og til at forstå det sande grundlag for den kristnes håb, som det er til at beskæftige sig med et menneskes udseende, dets opførsel, dets klædedragt etc. Og de, der lader sindet adsprede med tåbelige fortællinger og intetsigende historier, mætter vel fantasien, men Guds ords glans fordunkles for dem. Sindet ledes direkte bort fra Gud. Interessen for hans dyrebare ord bliver ødelagt.