Beginning of the End - Ellen G. White

novel or theater. People's minds are being educated to become
comfortable with sin. The actions of immoral and corrupt people are
continually presented for all to see, and everything that can excite
passion is brought to them in exciting stories. They hear and read so
much of degrading evil that their conscience becomes hardened, and
they keep thinking about these things with greedy interest.
Many amusements popular in the world today, even with those
who claim to be Christians, lead to the same results as did the
heathen amusements. Through drama Satan has worked for ages to
excite passion and glorify evil. Satan uses the opera, dance, and the
card table to break down barriers and open the door to sensual
indulgence. In every gathering for pleasure where pride is
encouraged or appetite indulged, where one is led to forget God and
eternal interests, Satan is there, binding his chains around that
person.
How to Overcome Temptation
The heart must be renewed by divine grace. Whoever tries to
build up an honorable character without the grace of Christ is
building a house on shifting sand. In the fierce storms of temptation
it will certainly come crashing down. David's prayer should be the
cry of every person: "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew
a steadfast spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10).
Yet we have a work to do to resist temptation. Those who
would not be overcome by Satan's schemes must carefully guard the
403