Now More Than Ever

Every generation from the Garden of Eden until now has had its problems. Men are sinners, and sin they do. Without tutoring and with little enticement, they make mischief and indulge themselves in the enchantments of carnality.

Christians lacking disconcertment and feeding on naivete will say, “Oh, it is no more now than it was in past years.” That simply isn’t true, however. The Bible sets the record straight.

The Pre-Flood World

Following the downfall in Eden, things around the world deteriorated quickly. Adam and Eve were given a choice, and the missteps they made had tragic consequences.

“And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”—Gen. 6:5.

The world descended into such degradation and debauchery that it “grieved” the Lord (Gen. 6:6). As a result, He called on Noah to build the ark in preparation for the coming judgment of the great Flood.

The Old Testament Era

As you read through the Old Testament, you’ll find the stories of slavery in Egypt in which God’s people were tortured and abused. You’ll read about the absolute wickedness of Ahab and Jezebel, as well as others like them. You’ll also see the tragic facts of rape, robbery and murder. It was not uncommon to have corrupt rulers, abusive felons and disloyal betrayals.

Things were so bad at one point that the Lord asked Israel, “How has the faithful city become an harlot!” (Isa. 1:21). Earlier in that chapter, He lamented that “…the whole head is sick…” (v. 5).

Obviously, the Old Testament era was not a rose garden reflecting the sweet fragrances of godliness.

The New Testament Era

Surge forward into the first century, and the world continues on its slide into depravity. The wicked kings and the angry mobs show up frequently.

From Christ’s birth in Bethlehem until His ascension from the Mount of Olives, His enemies were constantly trying to kill Him.

The early church leaders were in and out of jail, and a number of them were murdered. It was not a pretty picture that the societies of that era painted of themselves.

Now More Than Ever!

Here we are in the twenty-first century. Our world is a seething caldron of war and violence. Corruption is rampant on all levels of our society. The Bible tells us that in these times, “…evil men shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (II Tim. 3:13). Indeed, it is so, but let’s take a fresh look at all this.

1. The times are shifting in a downward spiral, more than ever. “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come” (II Tim. 3:1). The 1920s were turbulent, and the 1960s were traumatic, but these current years are even worse. The trends around the world are definitely spiraling downward.

2. The Devil is increasingly vicious and meaner than ever. He is a real menace who roams the earth “…as a roaring lion…” (I Pet. 5:8). He is unprincipled, unmerciful and untethered. Knowing that his time grows shorter, he is on the prowl and up to no good, all day long.

3. The wickedness of men is more corrupt now than ever. Every day, the news cycle has another incredible story of corruption that has left no segment of our society untouched.

“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

“Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

“Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

“Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:”—Rom. 1:28–31.

This is our world today. It is off-the-rails wicked, now more than ever.

4. Churches today are accommodating their culture, now more than ever. “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (II Tim. 3:5). Thankfully, many of our independent Baptist churches are not going down the route of “accommodating the culture.” Let there be no doubt, though, that a lot of formerly good churches have sold their birthright to the trends and the times.

5. The pulpits are less bold, less prophetic and more compromised, now more than ever. “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (II Tim. 4:2). If ever there was a time when our pulpits need to be awake, alert and declaring the truth of God strongly, it is now more than ever.

(6). The work of the Lord is being left undone, now more than ever. The Lord’s Great Commission (Matt. 28:19–20) gives us the details of His expectation of us, yet that is the one thing that gets the least attention in the average church. Now, more than ever, we need to be giving full attention to winning folks to Christ.

7. The God of the ages is needed today, now more than ever. “For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called” (Isa. 54:5). As the sinners they are, men and women are weak and waffling. The whole human race is in a dilemma that it cannot fix. We need the Lord now more than ever.

8. The truth of God is needed now more than ever. “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier” (I Tim. 2:3–4). In our world where lies are the norm, the truth of God is desperately needed. Now, more than ever, we need to herald God’s truth to offset the blatant brainwashing and the fake news being perpetrated by unregenerate men.

9. The stand we make must be strong, now more than ever. “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (4:13). Taking a stand against abortion, euthanasia, homosexuality, alcohol and a host of other things being pushed by the Devil and his cohorts is needed now more than ever.

10. The urgency of our task is greater, now more than ever. “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you” (II Thess. 3:1). Now is the time that we can do something, and do something we should. The need is great, and the urgency is greater now than ever.

Conclusions

To all my preacher brethren and to our churches all around the world, let me urge you to put the great work of the Lord on the front burner. Let’s not coast. Let’s not drift. Let’s give the Lord full measure every waking hour. Let’s renew our vows to the Lord and make the months ahead a time of “now more than ever.”