Man’s Failure to Interpret NatureApart from Christ we are still incapable of interpreting rightly the language of nature. The most difficult and humiliating lesson that man has to learn is his own inefficiency in depending upon human wisdom, and the sure failure of his efforts to read nature correctly. Of himself he cannot interpret nature without placing it above God. He is in a condition similar to that of the Athenians, who, amidst their altars dedicated to the worship of nature, had one inscribed: “To the unknown God.” God was indeed unknown to them. He is unknown to all who, without the guidance of the divine Teacher, take up the study of nature. They will assuredly come to wrong conclusions. {8T 257.2}

Mennesker kan ikke fortolke naturen
Borte fra Kristus er vi stadig ude af stand til at fortolke naturens sprog rigtigt. Den vanskeligste og mest ydmygende lektie som mennesker må lære er deres egen uduelighed når de gør sig afhængige af menneskelig visdom og sine sikre fiaskoer når de prøver at læse naturen rigtigt. Af sig selv kan mennesket ikke fortolke naturen uden at det sætter naturen over Gud. Mennesket er i en lignende situation som athenienserne, som havde skrevet under deres altre viet for naturdyrkelse: "For den ukendte Gud." Gud var i virkeligheden ukendt for dem. Han er ukendt for alle som, uden den guddommelige lærers vejledning, tager naturstudiet op. De vil med sikkerhed komme til forkerte konklusioner.