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     Every sin, every unrighteous action, every transgression of the law of God, tells with a thousand fold more force upon the actor than the sufferer. Every time one of the glorious faculties with which God has enriched man is abused or misused, that faculty loses forever a portion of its vigor and will never be as it was before the abuse it suffered. Every abuse inflicted upon our moral nature in this life is felt not only for time but for eternity. Though God may forgive the sinner, yet eternity will not make up that voluntary loss sustained in this life.

     To go forth into the next, the future life, deprived of half the power which might be carried there is a terrible thought. The days of probation lost here in acquiring a fitness for heaven, is a loss which will never be recovered. The capacities of enjoyment will be less in the future life for the misdemeanors and abuse of moral powers in this life.

soar higher and still higher, if we had made the most of our God-given privileges and golden opportunities to improve our faculties here in this probationary existence. .  We

 are all under one or the other of two great captains. One, the Creator of man and of the world, who is the greatest of all. All owe Him the allegiance of their whole being, the devotion of their entire affection. If the mind is given to His control, and if new moral power will be received daily from the Source of all wisdom and strength, then moral blessings and divine beauties will reward the efforts of every-one whose mind is heaven bent. We may grasp revelations—heavenly beauties—that lie beyond the short vision of the world ling, that outshine the imagination of the greatest mind and the most learned philosopher who has not connected himself with infinite power. .

     Justice, honor, love, and truth are the attributes of God's throne. They are the principles of His government which is to be established on the earth, made pure by the fire of His retributive justice. These are the jewels to be sought after and cherished for time and eternity. In view of these things, … build your character not after the worldly standard, but for eternity.


By Ellen G. White

However high we might attain in the future life, we might 

Letter 41, Dec. 7, 1877, to F.E. Belden, a 19-year-old nephew.

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