He subjected himself to privation and solitude in the wilderness, where he could preserve the sacred sense of the majesty of God by studying His great book of nature and there becoming acquainted with His character as revealed in His wonderful works. It was an atmosphere calculated to perfect moral culture and to keep the fear of the Lord continually before him. John, the forerunner of Christ, did not expose himself to evil conversation and the corrupting influences of the world. He feared the effect upon his conscience, that sin might not appear to him so exceedingly sinful. He chose rather to have his home in the wilderness, where his senses would not be perverted by his surroundings. Should we not learn something from this example of one whom Christ honored and of whom He said: “Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist”? {4T 109.1}

(109) Han underkastede sig selv ørkenens afsavn og ensomhed, hvor han kunne bevare den hellige fornemmelse af Guds majestæt ved at studere hans store naturbog og der blive kendt med hans karakter som åbenbaret i hans underfulde gerninger. Det var en atmosfære, der egnede sig til fuldstændig moralsk kultur og holder frygten for Herren hele tiden i hævd. Johannes, Kristi forløber, udsatte ikke sig selv for dårlig omgang med andre og verdens fordærvende påvirkninger. Han frygtede at hans samvittighed ville påvirkes, så synd ikke ville virke så umådelig syndigt. Han valgte snarere at have sit hjem i ørkenen, hvor hans sanser ikke bliver forvrænget af omgivelserne. Skulle vi ikke lære noget fra dette eksempel, fra een som Kristus ærede og om hvem han sagde: »Blandt kvindefødte er der ikke fremstået nogen større end Johannes Døber« ?