“Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.  For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.” Jeremiah 17:5–6

“This is precisely the condition of those who have not a vital connection with Christ. They seem to be ever working at cross-purposes with God, and are so full of jealousy, evil surmising, discord, and strife—Satanic attributes—that they are constantly lying against the truth; they are not doers of the words of Christ. Yet many church-members are in this very position. They dwell, as it were, in the salt land, in a parched wilderness.” –The Review and Herald, February 23, 1897

“This is a representation of the man who does not humble his heart before the Lord, and give up his will to the will of God. This man has lost his discernment, and can not be trusted. And because he has rejected the warnings of God, he has greatly hindered the work of the Lord. He shall ‘inhabit the parched places of the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.’” –North Pacific Union Gleaner, December 18, 1907

“How few appreciate the matchless love that He has manifested! He proclaims Himself as merciful and gracious, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. Those who come to Him, He pardons abundantly. Shall we be like the heath in the desert, that knoweth not when good cometh? Shall we not from the fullness of our gratitude render praise and glory to God, like the one who returned and bowed in his humility at the feet of Jesus? We do not want to be represented by the nine who went right on their way in indifference, and did not return to glorify Him who had restored them to perfect health.” –The Signs of the Times,  May 6, 1889

“We grieve our Heavenly Father when we are unmindful of His mercies—like the heath in the desert ‘that knoweth not when good cometh.’” –The Adventist Review and Herald, April 18, 1907

“He has given all the riches of heaven to redeem them, and yet they are unmindful of His great love. By their ingratitude they close their hearts against the grace of God. Like the heath in the desert they know not when good cometh, and their souls inhabit the parched places of the wilderness.” –The Desire of Ages, p. 348

“There were many who testified that as the searching truths had been presented, they had been convicted in the light of the law as transgressors. They had been trusting in their own righteousness. Now they saw it as filthy rags, in comparison with the righteousness of Christ, which is alone acceptable to God. While they had not been open transgressors, they saw themselves depraved and degraded in heart. They had substituted other gods in the place of their Heavenly Father. They had struggled to refrain from sin, but had trusted in their own strength. We should go to Jesus just as we are, confess our sins, and cast our helpless souls upon our compassionate Redeemer. This subdues the pride of the heart, and is a crucifixion of self. In the parable, [Prodigal son in Luke chapter 15] the father saw the returning prodigal son. He saw his repentance and contrition of soul, and he had compassion on him, and ran, and fell on his neck and kissed him. The son spoke his penitence, saying, ‘Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ The prodigal made a full confession of his sin. He made no excuse for his wrong-doing, and he was forgiven, and re-established in his father’s house.

“We thank the Lord, we rejoice, that it is not too late for wanderers to return, with humble confession, and receive a welcome in the Father’s house—to be clothed with the righteousness of Christ. I thank God for this with a full heart every day. We should be the most ungrateful of His creatures, were we indifferent when He works for the children of men in such a marvelous way. We should be like the heath in the desert, if we did not praise God when good cometh. . . . and if the angels rejoice, why should not we who have also witnessed the return of wanderers from darkness into the marvelous light of God’s love?

“To know God is the most wonderful knowledge that men can have. There is much wisdom with worldly men; but with all their wisdom, they behold not the beauty and majesty, the justice and wisdom, the goodness and holiness, of the Creator of all worlds. The Lord walks among men by His providences; but His stately steppings are not heard, His presence is not discerned, His hand is not recognized. The work of Christ’s disciples is to shine as lights, making manifest to the world the character of God. They are to catch the increasing rays of light from the word of God, and reflect them to men enshrouded in the darkness of misapprehension of God. The servants of Christ must rightly represent the character of God and Christ to men. Says the apostle, ‘Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.’” –The Adventist Review and Herald, March 5, 1889

“When we are not connected with God, we are like the heath of the desert, for the natural heart is ‘deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?’ We should pray as did the psalmist, ‘Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free Spirit. Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways: and sinners shall be converted unto Thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation; and my tongue shall sing aloud of Thy righteousness.’ These are words that should be hung in memory’s hall.”  –The Adventist Review and Herald, April 16, 1889

Ellen G. White