Those who profess godliness, yet do not heed the admonitions of the Lord, nor regulate their lives in harmony with his holy will, fasten themselves more and more firmly by chains of darkness. Many who now profess to believe the truth of Christ, endure the test no better than those who turned away from following him. Many, while professing the faith, are so separated from Christ by hearts of unbelief, that they reject the words and works of God shown through his servants. If the divine revelation does not harmonize with their views, they feel at liberty to turn from its teachings. If it rebukes their sins they are offended. Praise and flattery would be grateful to their ears, but the truth is disagreeable, they cannot hear it. When the crowds follow, and the multitudes are fed, and the cries of triumph go up, their voices are loud in praise; but when the searching of God’s Spirit reveals to them their sin and bids them leave it, they turn their backs upon the truth, and “walk no more with Jesus.” {2SP 287.2}

De, som bekender sit til gudsfrygt uden at agte på Herrens advarsler og at ordne sit liv i overensstemmelse med hans hellige vilje, omvikles derved mere og mere af mørkets lænker. Mange, som giver sig ud for at tro Kristi lære, består ikke prøven bedre end de, der den gang vendte sig bort for at følge ham. Mange såkaldte troende er så adskilte fra Kristus ved et vantro hjerte, at de forkastet Guds ord og værk, som hans tjenere forkynder. Dersom den guddommelige åbenbarelse ikke stemmer overens med deres anskuelser, så mener de, at det står dem frit for at vende sig bort fra Jesu lære. Dersom den straffer deres synder, forarges de. Smiger og ros behager deres øren; men sandheden er ubehagelig for dem, de ønsker ikke at høre den. Når skaren følger, (288) og mængden bliver bespist, lyder deres pris og sejrs råb højt; men når Guds Ånd renser hjertet og åbenbarer deres synder og byder dem at vende om, at vender de sig bort fra sandheden og vandrer ikke mere med Jesus.