MOW - 11,05,2020

God's original intention is that, through the cross of His Son, the saints would crucify the world on the cross, and they would pursue the things that are above and would leave behind the things of the earth. But, as a result of the enticement of the beauty and glory of the world, the saints ignore the legitimate demand of the cross, and they join themselves with the world. For this reason, in the end God has to bring them through the great tribulation and has to persecute them through the hand that they love, so that they will realize the hypocrisy in man's face and in his heart, and will find out that the Savior is their only true friend and their rock. Hence, this tribulation is very great. Formerly, the Lord's love was not able to draw them away from the world. Now, the world has become bitter. They find themselves stuck to it. They will want to leave the world behind as quickly as possible. They will begin to hate what they have formerly loved. They will come to realize that "the whole world lies in the evil one" (1 John 5:19). Hence, the world is not their place of rest. They will realize that "the world is passing away, and its lust, but he who does the will of God abides forever" (2:17). Dear ones, do not love any person, event, or thing in the world. Otherwise, you will find yourselves entangled by what you desire. 

 -Collected Works of Watchman Nee, The (Set 1) Vol. 04: The Christian (2), Chapter 4