“我虽然行过死荫的幽谷，也不怕遭害，因为你与我同在；你的杖，你的竿，都安慰我”（诗23:4）。{FH.133.1}
我们常听说有人把基督徒的生活描绘为充满考验、悲痛和忧伤，很少欢快和安慰，给人的印象往往是假如他们放弃自己的信仰和永生的努力，景况就会变得幸福愉快。但我却蒙引导将罪人的生活和义人的生活作了比较。罪人不想讨上帝喜悦，所以就不会对祂的嘉许感到愉快。他们享受罪中之乐和世间的娱乐并非没有烦恼，而是深感这种必死人生的不幸。有时他们极其愁烦。他们畏惧上帝，却不爱祂。{FH.133.2}
罪人会免遭失望、困惑、属世事物的损失、贫穷和痛苦吗？不会！在这方面他们与义人一样不安全。他们常为缠绵的疾病所困，没有强壮有力的膀臂可以依靠，也没有来自更高权威的恩惠来加给他们力量、扶持他们。他们不能快乐地指望复活之晨，因为他们没有与蒙福者同享的快乐盼望。面对将来，他们彷徨恐惧，得不到丝毫安慰。他们就这样瞑目而逝。这就是可怜罪人虚空娱乐人生的终局。{FH.133.3}
基督徒会遭遇疾病、失望、贫穷、耻辱和痛苦。但在这一切逆境之中，他们仍然爱上帝，喜爱遵行祂的旨意，并视祂的嘉许为无上的赏赐。在今生种种争斗、试炼和变幻无定的境况中，他们知道有一位会理解这一切，愿意侧耳垂听悲苦受难者的呼吁，同情每一忧伤，并抚慰各人心中最强烈的痛苦。祂邀请忧伤的人来到祂这里来得安息。基督徒在他们的一切患难中，能得到充分的慰藉。即使他们在离世以前遭受缠绵而痛苦的疾病，他们也能欣然忍受这一切，因为他们与自己的救赎主保持着交通。——《评论与通讯》，1895年4月28日。{FH.133.4}
Compare the Sinner and the Righteous, May 1
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.?Psalm 23:4.?{FH 133.1}[1]
We often hear the life of Christians described as being filled with trials, sadness, and sorrow, with but little to cheer and comfort; and the impression is too often given that if they should give up their faith and their efforts for eternal life, the scene would be changed to pleasure and happiness. But I have been led to compare the life of the sinner with the life of the righteous. Sinners do not have a desire to please God, therefore can have no pleasing sense of His approval. They do not enjoy their state of sin and worldly pleasure without trouble. They feel deeply the ills of this mortal life. Oh yes, at times they are fearfully troubled. They fear God but do not love Him.?{FH 133.2}[2]
Are sinners free from disappointment, perplexity, earthly losses, poverty, and distress? Oh, no! In this respect they are no more secure than the righteous. They often suffer lingering sicknesses, yet have no strong and mighty arm to lean upon, no strengthening grace from a higher power to support them. In their weakness they must lean upon their own strength. They cannot look forward with any pleasure to the resurrection morn, for they have no cheering hope that they will then have part with the blest. They obtain no consolation by looking forward to the future. A fearful uncertainty torments them, and thus they close their eyes in death. This is the end of poor sinners’ lives of vain pleasures.?{FH 133.3}[3]
Christians are subject to sickness, disappointment, poverty, reproach, and distress. Yet amid all this they love God, and love to do His will, and prize nothing so highly as His approval. In the conflicts, trials, and changing scenes of this life, they know that there is One who understands it all; One who will bend His ear low to the cries of the sorrowful and distressed; One who can sympathize with every sorrow and soothe the keenest anguish of every heart. He has invited the sorrowing ones to come to Him and find rest. Amid all their affliction Christians have strong consolation, and if they suffer a lingering, distressing sickness, before they close their eyes in death, they can with cheerfulness bear it all, for they hold communion with their Redeemer.—The Review and Herald, April 28, 1859.?{FH 133.4}[4]
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