From worldly policy, many endeavor, by their own efforts, to become as polished stones; but they cannot be living stones, because they are not built upon the true foundation. The day of God will reveal that they are, in reality, only wood, hay, and stubble. The great temple of Diana was ruined; her magnificence utterly perished; those who shouted, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” perished with their goddess and the temple which enshrined her. Their religion is forgotten, or seems like an idle tale. That temple was built upon a false foundation, and when tried, it was found to be worthless. But the stones that Paul quarried out from Ephesus were found to be precious and enduring. {LP 155.3}

Ud fra verdslig taktik, bestræber mange sig på, ved deres egne anstrengelser, at blive velpolerede stene; men de kan ikke være levende stene, fordi de er ikke bygget på det sande fundament. Guds dag vil åbenbare at de i virkeligheden blot er træ, hø, og stubbe. Den store Dianas tempel blev ruineret; dens storhed gik helt tabt; dem som råbte: "Stor er Effesus’ Diana!" gik tabt med deres gudinde, og templet som omskinnede hende. Deres religion glemmes, eller virker som et tomt eventyr. Det tempel blev bygget på falsk grund, og når det blev prøvet, blev det fundet værdiløs. Men de stene som Paulus ud fra Efesus fandtes som dyrebare og varige.