The "young man" manifested a willingness to keep the commandments, yet our Lord told him that he lacked one thing. He desired eternal life, but loved his possessions more. Many are self-deceived. They have not sought for truth as for hid treasures. Their energies and powers are not put to the best account. Their minds, which might be illuminated with heaven's light, are perplexed and troubled. Mark iv, 19. "The cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful." "Such," said the angel, "are without excuse." I saw the light waning away from them. They did not desire to understand the solemn, important truths for this time, and they thought they were well off without understanding them. Their light went out, and they were groping in darkness.

”Den ”unge mand” udviste en villighed for at holde budene, alligevel sagde Herren til ham at han manglede en ting. Han ønskende evigt liv, men elskede sine ejendomme højere. Mange er selvbedragede. De har ikke søgt efter sandheden som efter skjulte rigdomme. Deres energi og kræfter bruges ikke til det bedste. Deres sind, som skulle være oplyst af himmelens lys, er forvirrede og betrængt. Mark. 4, 19: ”Men denne verdens bekymringer og rigdommens blændværk og lyst til alt muligt andet kommer til og kvæler ordet, så det ikke bærer frugt. ”Disse” sagde englen, ”er uden undskyldning.” Jeg så at lyset svandt bort fra dem. De ønskende ikke at forstå de højtidelige og vigtige sandheder for denne tid, og de mente at de klarede sig uden at forstå dem. Deres lys gik ud, og de famlede rundt i mørke."