Influence of Perception
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elevate, refine, purify, and exalt to immortality and the throne of God.
Said the angel, “Will you have Christ, or the world?”
Satan presents the world with its most alluring, flattering charms
to poor mortals, and they gaze upon it, and its glitter and tinsel eclipse
the glory of heaven and that life which is as enduring as the throne of
God. A life of peace, happiness, joy unspeakable, which shall know
nothing of sorrow, sadness, pain, or death, is sacrificed for a short
lifetime of sin.—
Testimonies for the Church 2:100, 101
(1868).
Seeing Molds Personality—The sight of her eyes and the hearing
of her ears have perverted her heart.—
Testimonies for the Church
4:108
(1876).
[339]
Perceptions Confused by Choosing Temporal Advantages—
Lot chose Sodom as a place of residence because he looked more
to the temporal advantages he would gain than to the moral influences
that would surround himself and his family. What did he gain so far
as the things of this world are concerned? His possessions were de-
stroyed, part of his children perished in the destruction of that wicked
city, his wife was turned to a pillar of salt by the way, and he himself
was saved “so as by fire.” Nor did the evil results of his selfish choice
end here; but the moral corruption of the place was so interwoven with
the character of his children that they could not distinguish between
good and evil, sin and righteousness.—
The Signs of the Times, May
29, 1884
. (
Messages to Young People, 419
.)
Perceptions Dimmed to Eternal Verities—Those who have
made a wrong use of means dedicated to God will be required to give
an account of their stewardship. Some have selfishly grasped means
because of their love of gain. Others have not a tender conscience; it
has become seared through long-cherished selfishness....
Their minds have so long run in a low, selfish channel that they
cannot appreciate eternal things. They do not value salvation. It
seems impossible to elevate their minds to rightly estimate the plan
of salvation or the value of the atonement. Selfish interests have
engrossed the entire being; like a lodestone they hold the mind and
affections, binding them down to a low level. Some of these persons
will never attain to perfection of Christian character because they do
not see the value and necessity of such a character. Their minds cannot
be elevated so that they will be charmed with holiness. Self-love and
selfish interests have so warped the character that they cannot be made