Devotionals

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"...the whole world is under the control of the evil one." (1 John 5:19)

I came across this verse while reading an excerpt from Watchman Nee's book, Love Not the World. In context, the verse actually says that 'we know' that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. The problem is, do we actually know that? Do we know that our educational system, the arts, the sciences, the world of entertainment, etc. is under the control of Satan?

Watchman Nee posed this question. If, say, you become a social worker or a doctor and somebody comes up to you and says, "You've really touched the world there", you probably wouldn't feel much except perhaps some sort of satisfaction. If, on the other hand, someone you respected came up to you and said, "You've really touched Satan there", you might have a slightly different reaction. In truth, though, the two statements are the same, for the world belongs to Satan.

The problem, though, comes in when we realize that we are to be in the world, but not of it. If all these things belong to Satan, how are we to live in it? Does that mean all things, even those things that might usually be seen as 'good' are truly evil? Well, in a way, yes, they are very much evil. Satan has as much influence in our educational system as in a strip club and we're in at least as much danger in one place as the other. If we're 'good' Christians, we realize that a strip club is no place for a Christian to be (though to many of us today the line between what a Christian should and should not do is getting blurred), but a university is different. It seems fine, a good place for an upstanding Christian to be. Yet, we're in terrible peril there.

How, then, do we survive? Well, first, we must realize the dangerous streams we swim in while we live in the world. The world belongs to Satan and has been given over to his control. Recognize this and be wary lest when we think we stand, we actually fall.

Something else that Watchman Nee said, though, shows the way to navigate through the murky waters. He used as an example our educational institutions. Many of our schools were founded by Christians looking toward heaven and expanding the kingdom of God in this world. In the process of developing the schools, systems were designed to increase the efficiency of the institution. This helped grow the school. As long as the founders remained around to guide the growth, the influence of God in these schools remained clear, but when they passed away, the institution veered away from God. Of its own, all things of this world (and people, too) shall veer in a direction diametrically opposite to God. Only the regenerating touch of God can steer those things and people in a different course. Forget God or kick Him out of His captain's position, and the boat will turn and go the opposite way that He would lead it.

So, then, how do we navigate through the murky waters of this world? We need to make sure God remains captain of our boat. Some waters are trickier than others and some should be avoided entirely, but the only way we stand a chance in Satan's land is with God as our captain and pilot in a very direct and powerful way. Otherwise, the world and everything in it, which is heading directly opposite to the direction we wish to go shall pull us its way: to hell.

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