A pearl of great price is offered to the youth. They may sell all and buy this pearl, or they may refuse it to their own infinite loss. Heaven may be attained by all who will comply with the conditions laid down in the word of God. Our Redeemer was obedient unto death; He gave Himself an offering for sin. Ye are redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish.” “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” Young friends, you may form earnest purposes in your own strength, you may flatter yourselves that you can pursue a straightforward course without yielding the heart to the controlling influence of the Spirit of God; but you are not thus made happy. Your restless spirit needs change and thirsts for pleasure in amusement and hilarity and the society of your young associates. You are hewing out to yourselves broken cisterns which contain no water. A deceptive power controls your mind and actions. Happiness is to be found only in repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ; for your heart is filled with rebellion; it breathes forth in your words. Your selfish prayers and religious forms may soothe the conscience, but they only increase your peril. Your nature is unrenewed. {4T 625.1}

(625) En meget kostbar perle er ofret til de unge. De kan sælge eller købe denne perle, eller de kan afvise den, til deres eget tab. Himmelen kan opnås af alle, som vil efterkomme de betingelser, der er nedlagt i Guds ord. Vor Forløser var lydig til døden; han gav sig selv som offer for synd. I er løskøbt for Kristi dyrebare blod, som af et lam uden skam. »Jesu, hans Søns, blod renser os fra al synd.« Unge venner, I kan danne jer alvorlige mål i jeres egen styrke, I kan bilde jer selv ind at I kan stræbe fremad uden at opgive hjertet til Guds Ånds styrende indflydelse; men derved bliver I ikke lykkelige. Jeres hvileløshed behøver forandringer og tørster efter fornøjelser i underholdning og lystighed og jeres unge kammeraters selskab. I skaber karriere for jer selv, bryder cisterner, som ikke indeholder vand. En bedragerisk kraft styrer jeres tanker og handlinger. Lykke findes kun i anger mod Gud og tro på vor Herre Jesus Kristus, for jeres hjerte er fyldt med oprør; det ånder med jeres ord. Jeres selviske bønner og religiøse former kan formildne samvittigheden, men det forøger kun jeres fare. Jeres natur er ufornyet.