Problems of Youth
231
Sometimes Fail to See God as a Loving Father—The young
generally conduct themselves as though the precious hours of pro-
bation, while mercy lingers, were one grand holiday and they were
placed in this world merely for their own amusement, to be gratified
with a continued round of excitement. Satan has been making special
efforts to lead them to find happiness in worldly amusements and to
justify themselves by endeavoring to show that these amusements are
harmless, innocent, and even important for health. The impression has
been given by some physicians that spirituality and devotion to God are
detrimental to health. This suits the adversary of souls.—
Testimonies
for the Church 1:501
(1867).
Diseased Imaginations Misrepresent God—There are persons
with diseased imaginations who do not rightly represent the religion
of Christ; such have not the pure religion of the Bible. Some are
scourging themselves all through life because of their sins; all they
can see is an offended God of justice. Christ and His redeeming power
[292]
through the merits of His blood they fail to see. Such have not faith.
This class are generally those who have not well-balanced minds.
Through disease transmitted to them from their parents and an
erroneous education in youth, they have contracted wrong habits which
injure the constitution and the brain, causing the moral organs to
become diseased and making it impossible for them to think and
act rationally upon all points. They have not well-balanced minds.
Godliness and righteousness are not destructive to health, but are health
to the body and strength to the soul.—
Testimonies for the Church
1:501, 502
(1867).
Need for Restraint—Always act from principle, never from im-
pulse. Temper the natural impetuosity of your nature with meekness
and gentleness. Indulge in no lightness or trifling. Let no low witti-
cism escape your lips. Even the thoughts are not to be allowed to run
riot. They must be restrained, brought into captivity to the obedience
of Christ. Let them be placed upon holy things. Then, through the
grace of Christ, they will be pure and true.—
The Ministry of Healing,
491
(1905).
Keeping Sentimentalism Out of the Life—You are now in your
student’s life; let your mind dwell upon spiritual subjects. Keep all
sentimentalism apart from your life. Give to yourself vigilant self-
instruction and bring yourself under self-control. You are now in the