There are some who profess to be Christ’s followers, yet put forth no effort in spiritual things. In any worldly enterprise they put forth effort, and manifest ambition to accomplish their object, and bring about the desired end; but in the enterprise of everlasting life, where all is at stake, and their eternal happiness depends upon their success, they act as indifferent as though they were not moral agents, as though another were playing the game of life for them, and they had nothing to do but wait the result. Oh, what folly! what madness! If all will only manifest that degree of ambition, zeal, and earnestness for everlasting life that they manifest in their worldly pursuits, they will be victorious overcomers. Everyone, I saw, must obtain an experience for himself, each must act well and faithfully his part in the game of life. Satan watches his opportunity to seize the precious graces when we are unguarded, and we shall have a severe conflict with the powers of darkness to retain them, or to regain a heavenly grace if through lack of watchfulness we lose it. {1T 407.1}

Der er nogle, som bekender sig til at følge Kristus uden dog at gøre nogen anstrengelse i åndelige ting. I ethvert timeligt foretagende anstrenger de sig og lægger iver for dagen for at fuldføre deres hensigt og opnå det forønskede mål; men i det foretagende, hvor det gælder det evige liv, hvor alt står på spil og hvor deres evige lykke afhænger af deres fremgang, handler de så ligegyldigt, som om de ikke var moralske væsener, som om en anden spillede livets spil for dem og de selv ikke havde noget andet at gøre end at afvente udfaldet. Oh, hvilken dårskab, hvilket vanvid! Dersom alle blot vil vise den samme grad af iver, nidkærhed og alvor for det evige liv, som de lægger for dagen i deres timelige sysler, vil de opnå at blive sejrvindere. Jeg så, at enhver må tilegne sig en erfaring for sit eget vedkommende og enhver må udføre sin del i livets spil godt og trofast. Satan passer på sin anledning til at gribe de kostelige dyder, når vi ikke er på vagt og vi vil få en hård kamp med mørkets magter for at kunne beholde dem eller for at genvinde en himmelsk dyd, hvis mangel på årvågenhed mister den.