The minds of some are being turned into the channel of unbelief. These persons think they see reason to doubt the word and the work of God, because the course of some professed Christians looks questionable to them. But does this move the foundation? We are not to make the course of others the basis of our faith. We are to imitate Christ, the perfect Pattern. If any allow their hold on Him to be weakened because men err, because defects are seen in the characters of those who profess the truth, they will ever be on sliding sand. Their eyes must be directed to the Author and Finisher of their faith; they must strengthen their souls with the assurance of the great apostle: “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His.” God cannot be deceived. He reads character correctly. He weighs motives. Nothing escapes His all-seeing eye; the thoughts, the intents and purposes of the hearts—all are discerned by Him. {4T 583.2}

Nogles tanker er blevet vendt ned i vantroens kanal. Disse personer mener at de ser grund til at betvivle ordet og Guds gerninger, fordi nogle bekendeDne kristnes adfærd ser tvivlsom ud for dem. Men rører dette ved det fundamentale? Vi skal ikke gøre andres opførsel til basis for vor tro. Vi skal efterligne Kristus, det fuldkomne Mønster. Hvis nogen lader deres greb på ham svækkes, fordi mennesker fejler, fordi der ses mangler i deres karakter, som bekender sandheden vil de altid være på glidende sand. Deres øjne må rettes imod deres tros Ophav og Fuldender; de må styrke deres sjæle med den store apostels forsikring: »Dog, Guds faste grundvold står urokket, beseglet med denne indskrift: »Herren kender dem, der hører ham til.« Gud kan ikke bedrages. Han læser karakteren rigtig. Han vejer motiverne. Intet kan undgå hans altseende øjne; hjertets tanker og hensigter - han ser det hele.