In chapters 6th to 9th of Genesis is recorded one of the greatest destructions and one of the greatest salvations of the first 4000 years of the world’s history. Records of profane history are made variable by successive historians; but Bible history, such as the account of the awful Flood of Noah’s day, is always the same. It ever stands as a memorial for future generations of mankind, demonstrating the danger of staying among, or turning back to the worldly on the one hand, and the surety of turning and remaining apart from the world on the other.

"God spared not the angels that sinned"; "spared not the old antediluvian world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly" (II Peter 2:4, 5). Why? The angels and the pre-flood people looked back, like Lot’s wife; but Noah, a just man who walked with God, looked forward!

Let us read on: "And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; and delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked; (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds.") Why?— (1) "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that WE through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." (Rom. 15:4). "These things happened unto them for ensamples (types or shadows); and they are written for OUR admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh that he standeth take heed lest he fall" (I Cor. 10:11, 12). (2) "I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But. now.I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one, no, not to eat . . . . ye judge them that are within"(I Cor. 5:9-12).

Yes, we must live in the world, and must be among wicked humanity; but we are not permitted to be like them or to company with or abet them in their deeds. In looking forward we leave the world and all that is in it behind. We cannot take the world to Glory with us. This applies to both

individuals and the church assembly. If our individual living and collective worship and work is to be in the Lord’s name, we must leave the world out of the work altogether (Col. 3:17). Otherwise we are looking back to the world. "REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE !"

What is it you would not be willing to give up, if you were sure that keeping it—clinging to it, you would lose your eternal soul?! Think of it, brother, sister. Yes, you would give up your dancing, gambling, movie-going, deceiving, neglect of attending church services; you would forsake ungodly company, the cigarette, falsifying, slander, vulgar words, swearing; you would not cater to the lusts of the flesh at all! But cannot you discern between the things of the flesh and those of the Spirit? See Gal. 5; Titus 3; Rom. 8; I Cor. 6:9-11.

Jesus ate at the same table with publicans and sinners, but He did not encourage the world—He overcame the world! Not only did He abstain from sinful indulgences, but also He rebuked all ungodliness.

The way of the carnal world is to follow appearances, cater to sensual indulgences, fellowship the popular clamor, abet contrary movements by presence, or silence, or words. And the carnal world is LOST! But He gave himself to deliver us from this present evil world! (Gal. 1:4). Although He planted his Church in the world, he said "My kingdom is NOT of this world" (John 18:36).

The apostle to the Gentiles wrote to the Thessalonians: "Ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come" (I Thess. 1 :9, 10). The 6th verse says, "Ye became followers of us, and of the Lord." In chapter 2, we learn that when they received the Word, they received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth.

But if any of them turned back or looked back to the world, they returned to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto they desired to be in bondage (Gal. 4:9).

The observance of "days, and months, and times, and years" belongs with a dead law, like tithing, carnal washings, special priestly wearing apparel and ministrations. Likewise all modern societyism and commercialism in so-called religious activities are dead to the law of Christ. Let a man attempt to defend the modern Sunday School with its women teachers, classes, class collections, birthday box, picnics, conventions, Children’s Day and officers, and he becomes "a debtor to do the whole law." "There is ONE BODY," as "The Cup," "The Bread," or "One Bread, and One Body: for we are all partakers of THAT ONE BREAD." See Eph. 4 :4; I Cor. 10:14-21. If they were complete in Him" (Col. 2:10) while the Apostles were among men, if we do as they did, we are complete in Him today! If not, why not?!They used no instrumental music; but they sang. They had no "superintendents" or "women teachers" then, no "classes," no "conventions," no "days," no "literature," "quarterlies," "lesson leaves" or "picture cards," "no cups," no "breads," no man-made standards, no fixed-price "pastors,"—if they worshipped acceptably and carried on the Lord’s work abroad with His approval. Then why should we think that we can "walk by faith, not by sight" today and please Him? No, without those innovations, we are complete in Him with one body; one spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. (Eph. 4:1-6). Then "Let us FOLLOW after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. For meat destroy not the work of God. (Rom. 14:19, 20), endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the BOND OF PEACE (Eph. 4:3).

REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE"! "Forward we go."