I Found Him Not — E.A. Johnston

Spiritual Decline and the Withdrawn Presence of God

There are times when society can be so far away from God that it falls into such moral chaos that the lines between right and wrong and good and evil become blurred. And there are times when Christianity is in such a withering condition that it throws the church on the very verge of apostasy as she suffers the withdrawn presence of God.

Like the lover laments in the Song of Solomon, I sought him, but I found him not. And that's the title of my message this evening, friends. I found him not because we're living in a day of the withdrawn presence of God.

And in these seasons of moral degeneracy in society and spiritual declension in the church, few are saved. There is little vital preaching, nor searching sermons to awaken sinners to their lost condition.

As the church slumbers on pillows of conformity and compromise, the majority of pulpits become forums for an essay to be considered, as many pastors are teaching pastors, but few are preachers, teaching informs and preaching transforms.

In this sad state of spiritual declension, a person can stay in church for years and still remain unconverted. I believe that these are the days we are living in, friend. It's a time where many join the church, but few are saved.

The Days of Noah and the Few Who Are Saved

We see a bleak picture of society long ago, from 1 Peter 3 and verse 20, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah while the ark was preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water.

The estimated population in the days of Noah is unknown, but we know this. Out of an entire civilization, only eight persons were saved. Right now, the earth has approximately 7 billion people who inhabit it.

If Christ came back today, how many out of these 7 billion would be saved? If the church is slumbering and the gospel is not flourishing, then the prospects don't look too good for this generation. In seasons of revival, more good is done.

Violence, Moral Confusion, and the Need for Revival

In just a matter of months, then, in many years, America hasn't seen a national revival in over 150 years, friends. Society has never been more wicked in this country than it is at this hour. We live in a violent society, as in the days of Noah, where the earth was filled with violence.

You can't even go outside anymore without risking sudden death, either getting run over by a drunk or gunned down by a madman. The lines are blurred today as to what is right and wrong, both in society and in the church.

Only a heaven-sent revival can ignite the church with vital Christianity and restore her to a place of influence upon the land once again. For when the church lacks authority from on high, she loses her influence upon society, and it's a time of dearth in the land where few are saved.

Repentance, Prayer, and God’s Promise to Heal the Land

These are desperate days, friends. Will the church repent and turn back to the living God of the Bible? And will you be among the remnant who is praying for revival? God promises in his word from 2 Chronicles, If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Let me ask you, friend, does our land need healing? Do our young people today need saving? Why are we not on our knees, weeping before God in brokenness and repentance, and seeking his face in desperate prayer for God to have mercy, and send revival showers upon our churches to revive us again?

Revival, Christian Witness, and the Harvest of Souls

When revival comes, and Christ is preeminent in his sanctuary, and the people of God are on fire for him, and have a burning zeal for a witness to the lost to be saved, a great harvest could occur during such times.

Oh, friends, let's pray for these times to come upon us in these desperate days.